Historic shed to go as Fletcher’s Slip masterplan revealed

A historic sawtooth shed on the banks of the Port River will be torn down as part of a $160 million transformation of Fletcher’s Slip — despite a social media push to maintain it.

A historic sawtooth shed on the banks of the Port River will be torn down as part of a $160 million transformation of Fletcher’s Slip.

The Advertiser can reveal the masterplan Cedar Woods will use to transform the key Port Adelaide waterfront precinct into a housing development, which it says will be extremely attractive to young families and couples.

Intending to build about 500 new homes — a mix of two and three-storey townhouses and low-rise apartments — alongside public parks, Cedar Woods chief operating officer Patrick Archer said the development would allow people to buy waterfront views at an affordable price.

“That is one of the things that excites me about this as a project,” he said.

“The prospect of having relatively affordable townhouses and apartments with water views.

“We are hoping this really appeals to young families and couples … the townhouses all have very good backyards.”

The old warehouse is set to be demolished, despite a social media campaign to keep it. Picture: Dean Martin

Mr Archer said Fletcher’s Slip would also involve the retention, restoration and reuse of two existing heritage-listed buildings on the foreshore as well as artefacts from the area.

But one building that won’t be retained is the former Marine and Harbors shed in Fletcher’s Slip, which has been the subject of a fierce social media campaign attempting to save it.

Also known as Shed 26, it has been described by acclaimed Australian architect Robert Morris-Nunn as the most significant building outside of Hart’s Mill in the Port.

It is not heritage listed.

Mr Archer said Cedar Woods had investigated retaining the sawtooth building, but not only was it structurally decaying, it was also riddled with asbestos.

“It would have cost about $8 million to $10 million to just meet the building code,” he said.

“We found that the underlying foundations were actually not built properly and there was asbestos in it.”

Apartment buildings will go in place of it.

Cedar Woods’ masterplan for Fletcher’s Slip

Other features of the masterplan include; a public promenade, park and plaza to open up the waterfront, developing direct access to Glanville Train Station for pedestrians, bicycles and wheelchairs, and restoring the existing boat slip at the northwestern corner of the wharf to provide access to the water for kayaks and hand-powered water crafts.

Fletcher’s Slip Masterplan, Townhome and Waterfront. Picture: Supplied

Infrastructure Minister Stephan Knoll said it would improve the amenity of the Port.

The first homes to be released to the market will be located in the northwest

corner of the development site.

Home designs, floorplans and pricing will be released closer to the sales launch in February 2019.

Work will start next week and the development is expected to create more than 900 jobs.