Port Adelaide pumped with big projects worth millions of dollars

THE Port is being pumped with millions of dollars worth of investment not seen since the 1980s — including a new project announced today.

Custom House building at Commercial Road, Port Adelaide is to be transformed.

PORT Adelaide’s inner harbour is being transformed by a historic wave of multimillion-dollar projects such as hasn’t been seen for decades.

In the latest project, revealed today, the historic Customs House buildings, which have been empty for 25 years, will be transformed into an art gallery and hospitality complex under a $2.5 million upgrade.

The waterfront developments — the most significant investment in the Port since the 1980s — centre around the prominent lighthouse and includes a $38 million office tower and a $25 million, five-storey hotel complex.

The State Government is also set to announce, within weeks, plans for 40ha of waterfront land to be split into six parcels, after it was put on the market 12 months ago, to spur $2 billion worth of investment.

The six parcels of waterfront land in the Port’s inner harbour.

Port Adelaide developer Hans Ehmann will convert the two buildings at the old Customs House complex on Commercial Rd into art galleries, a microbrewery, cafe and function centre.

Mr Ehmann said the plan for the Customs House and the adjacent Institute building would be completed once the State Government’s $38 million office tower at Port Adelaide was finished in 2018.

Artist impressions of the proposed State Government office building at the corner of Nile and Robe St, Port Adelaide.

“I think when people realise they can go inside and have a look inside it, it will bring hordes of people down here,” Mr Ehmann told the The Advertiser. “People will also like eating, drinking and having a good time — so I think it will bring lots of people down.

“But it depends on the State Government offices being built because if there are 500 public servants it will happen sooner rather than later.”

Mr Ehmann will submit plans to the State Government and the Port Adelaide Enfield Council once the office building is halfway through construction. A microbrewery and restaurant similar to the Lady Burra Brewhouse in Topham Mall, would be on the ground floor of The Institute, with alfresco dining along Commercial Rd.

Artist impressions of the Quest apartments in Port Adelaide.

The cafe would also extend to the basement of the building.

The ground floor of the old Customs House building on the corner of North Pde and Commercial Rd will be turned into rooms for artists to exhibit their works.