Major projects turning western eyesores into star attractions
Millions of dollars and tonnes of concrete are being poured into Port Adelaide and surrounds to take it from shabby to chic. See the flash new developments.
West & Beaches
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Millions of dollars are being invested into the western suburbs and it’s set to transform some of the area’s eyesores into major attractions.
We’ve taken a lot at some of the not-so-pretty buildings in the western suburbs and the big plans for them.
But while some sites are set to be totally transformed in the coming years, for others there are still no plans on the drawing board.
COLAC HOTEL
At the moment, passers-by of the old Colac Hotel in Port Adelaide will just see a giant pit and worksite.
But next year the site will be home to a $12m luxury apartment building.
The Colac Hotel is believed to have first opened in early 1885 and was a favourite for many a wharfie and Port Adelaide locals until its closure in 2011.
Dominion Homes is behind the redevelopment of the former Labor Party-owned hotel, which was once even a topless bar.
With demand for residential real estate in Port Adelaide hot at the moment, all of the 14 apartments in the complex were sold in only seven days.
ANGLE PARK TRACK
The greyhound racing track at Angle Park has not had an update for decades and at the moment it is mostly dirt and rubble.
But by August punters will be able to get closer to the action than ever before with a newly redeveloped lawned area right next to an updated track.
Work started on the $2m project in April and will take four months to finish.
The project was well due – with the track hosting race meets since its opening in the early 70s.
Apart from in the late 90s, when there were some track renovations, no major works had been undertaken since the track was first opened 50 years ago.
There had been a significant degradation of key parts of the lure system, track fencing and concrete plinths, which has become increasingly evident in recent years.
The foundations of the track including the sub-base, base, concrete gutters and drainage were also in need of replacement and modernisation.
MARINE AND HARBOURS BUILDING
Two sides of the Marine and Harbours Building in Port Adelaide are spectacular – featuring stunning artworks from the Wonderwalls mural festival.
But the front and rear of the building are definitely showing their signs of age.
The Marine and Harbours Building was constructed in 1979 for a state government department which oversaw shipping permits and customs-related work.
Twenty years later, the site was left vacant and was unoccupied until Starfish Developments bought it to renovate and refurbish it as a boutique hotel as part of the Dock One development.
The plan for the development includes unique floating suites on the Port River.
Starfish’s MH Hotel project will also involve the construction of 100 boutique hotel rooms, ground floor restaurant and a rooftop bar in the old Marine and Harbours building.
ABANDONED SERVICE STATIONS
Unfortunately not every eyesore site out west has an immediate plan for it.
There are two former western service stations that have laid empty for years.
In December 2019, police and MFS crews were called to a disused petrol station on the corner of Eighth Ave and Hanson Road at Woodville Gardens to find the structure fully alight.
It took 13 appliances and 30 firefighters almost an hour to contain the blaze.
Firefighters also found an LPG tank at the rear of the property, which posed a threat, but crews managed to cool the cylinder. Neighbouring property was also saved by firefighters.
Since the incident, the site has remained undeveloped.
Another service station on Tapleys Hills Road at Fulham Gardens has also laid disused for years.
In October last year, a North Haven man was charged after a police helicopter and dog was used to track him down for allegedly trespassing and stealing copper from the service station.
THE GLOBE HOTEL
COVID-19 resulted in a slowdown on the redevelopment of the Globe Hotel at Port Adelaide.
Located on the bustling St Vincent Street down the Port, the old Globe Hotel has been a work site for many months.
Originally, developers planned for a $1.5 million revamp of the historic old hotel.
Work had begun on the major development for the Port, which has approval for work on the hotel including bars, a beer garden, restaurant and meeting rooms.
But with hold-ups due to COVID-19 last year, the developers went back to the drawing board with the plans.
Further work was halted pending approval for a 60 room residential hotel, which is still before the State Commission Assessment Panel for planning approval.
The hotel will be integrated into the current plans, before work starts in earnest.
OLD BUFFALO SITE
Before it was demolished, the old replica of the HMS Buffalo was arguably one of the eyesores of the Glenelg area.
Only this week, plans were revealed for a new look for the site.
There are two options – both of which are yet uncosted.
Both options include more usable open space through the removal of off-street parking and the utilisation of space currently inaccessible where the Buffalo replica area was located.
One option includes removing existing public toilets and incorporating them into a new kiosk facility. A ‘Dune Lounge’ also features in the plan – activating the foreshore with a lounge area overlooking an event space and the water.
The other options includes a smaller capacity kiosk, the existing public toilets and an amphitheatre boardwalk experience.
Community consultation on the options begins mid-May.
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