Carrick Hill to get $9.5 million revamp including two-storey glass-fronted pavilion
A MULTI-MILLION dollar visitor and function centre will be built at Carrick Hill in the most significant development at the historic Springfield property since it was opened to the public.
East, Inner Suburbs & Hills
Don't miss out on the headlines from East, Inner Suburbs & Hills. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- Why 70,000 people visit Carrick Hill each year
- Masterplan to guide future development of Carrick Hill
A MULTI-MILLION dollar visitor and function centre will be built at Carrick Hill in the most significant development at the historic Springfield property since it was opened to the public.
The centre — to be known as Carrick Hill Pavilion — would be part of a wider $9.5 million plan to revamp the site over the next 20 years in a bid to attract more visitors and events.
A tender document released last week by State Government body Arts SA showed a two-storey, glass-fronted pavilion next to the carpark, overlooking the main house, to be built within the next three to five years.
The centre would include function space for events such as weddings, a restaurant, cafe and gift shop.
Office space inside the heritage-listed Carrick Hill house would be moved to the new building to allow increased public access to the historic home.
Carrick Hill director Christine Schloithe said the redevelopment was vital to bring more people to the property and “breathe new life to the estate”.
“In 2016, Carrick Hill recorded attendances of more than 70,000 but if we are to maintain this and extend the visitor experience we need to provide more opportunity for visitors to engage with the gardens and house and develop a broader range of activities and programs,” Ms Schloithe said.
“At the moment, the facilities at Carrick Hill include a temporary marquee, that has been there for 20 years at the back of the house (for events), … the kitchen has been moved in to a garage and the gift shop exists where the housekeeper sitting room used to be,” Ms Schloithe said.
“The idea is to move these functional facilities out of the house so we can return those elements to the historic house.”
Arts SA’s tender report said the pavilion could attract State Opera SA, Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide Festival and Adelaide Fringe events to the hills.
“(They) can take advantage of Carrick Hill’s beauty and near-city proximity to extend the impact of their own activities,” the report said.
“The new Pavilion will host a diverse public program including activities for children, music, opera, hospitality, functions, garden and flower events and bush walking.”
It also suggested partnering with tour groups to attract visitors on tight schedules from cruise ships.
Friends of Carrick Hill had raised $1 million to put towards the project, but Mrs Schloithe said the final funding arrangement was yet to be determined.
The tender document showed options including an investor or developer designing, building and maintaining the building, but the venue would be operated by Carrick Hill management.
Arts SA would not say if the government was contributing funds to the redevelopment. It also would not say how much of the $9.5 million would go to the pavilion.
The wider project would include improved landscaping, a lift inside the main house and converting attic space to a gallery and function area.
Carrick Hill was built by Edward Hayward and Ursula Barr Smith from 1937-39.
It was bequeathed to the state following Sir Edward’s death in 1983 and opened to the public by the Queen in 1986.
Other Master Plan elements:
CREATING an agricultural sheltered and flexible timber space featuring an Australian museum of gardening, garden activities, workshops and cooking demonstrations, which is under construction;
EXPANDING and updating a 500m walk with small landscapes relating to children’s stories;
DEVELOPING bushwalking and recreational paths to make sure visitors can orientate around the site and discover its different areas;
IMPROVING native grey box woodlands which make up two thirds of the site and have been degrading;
CREATING access to the first floor by installing a lift for people with physical disabilities; and
REPLACING the existing marquee with a building to host events.
Child suffers serious burns in Adelaide’s east
Emergency services have rushed to the eastern suburbs following an incident that left a child with serious burns.
Taser used to end thug’s reign of terror and carjackings
A man is behind bars after two people were violently carjacked, including a pizza delivery driver, in a wild crime spree from Whyalla to Adelaide.