Adelaide Convention Centre’s $397 million upgrade ends with East Building opening
THE $397 million Adelaide Convention Centre redevelopment culminates in a gala opening on Wednesday night. Chief reporter Paul Starick looks behind the fireworks to explain its features.
LITTLE more than 30 years ago, Adelaide hosted the “dinner party of the decade” for the gala opening of Australia’s first purpose-built convention centre.
The 1300 guests at the black-tie event dined on Port MacDonnell crayfish and “chicken Barossa”, then heard the-then premier John Bannon declare the North Tce building a “great international asset”.
“It really is going to be the scene of some extraordinary extravaganzas,” he confidently predicted.
It was a bullish time in June, 1987. SA had secured the Formula One Grand Prix and, that month, a $5 billion deal to build six Collins Class submarines.
“We are looking at our achievements with pride and at our future with confidence. This convention centre will further establish Adelaide and SA as a leading national and international destination for the convention trade,” Mr Bannon declared.
“ ... In short, it is a vital element in the restructuring of this state’s economy.”
The heady days of the glitzy 1980s are long gone but — submarine contracts aside — there are some important parallels as the $397 million Adelaide Convention Centre redevelopment tonight is capped by the East Building’s official opening.
At the southern end of the Torrens Footbridge to Adelaide Oval, the East Building is the second and final stage of the Centre’s nine-year upgrade.
Historic makeover
Just like in 1987, when the Adelaide Railway Station and environs were transformed into the casino, convention centre and Hyatt Hotel, the latest redevelopment involved a historic makeover of the River Torrens waterfront.
Arguably, it is a more significant transformation of the southern riverbank than the original development, which was substantially focused on the North Tce frontage and did not greatly capitalise on overlooking the Torrens.
Tonight’s official opening both celebrates the Centre’s anniversary and a new facility geared for luring international-standard business.
Like in 1987, official invitations promise surprise entertainment, likely to include pyrotechnics and audiovisual presentations designed to showcase the views of Adelaide Oval and the River Torrens.
Elon Musk
It has been built in time for the International Astronautical Congress, from September 25-29, and featuring heads of major space agencies and a panel of astronauts. More than 3500 people are expected. Billionaire entrepreneur and Tesla chief Elon Musk, whose firm is building the world’s biggest battery near Jamestown, will be a speaker. His SpaceX firm in March launched a used rocket from Florida’s Kennedy Space Centre — a world-first recycling.
The centre next April will host the Australian Tourism Exchange — the nation’s largest annual travel and tourism business-to-business event. About 2500 delegates are expected — this year’s in Sydney attracted 548 travel firms from more than 30 countries.
Adelaide Convention Centre chief executive Alec Gilbert says the new East Building, by no coincidence, occupies the same footprint as the original Plenary Building that Mr Bannon opened on June 13, 1987.
“Since its establishment, the Centre has been an economic success story for South Australia,” Mr Gilbert says.
“Over the past 30 years, we have played host to 1800 conferences, welcomed more than six million delegates and guests, and delivered in excess of $1.4 billion in economic benefit to the state.
“The forecast for the future is even more vibrant with business resulting from our newly expanded centre expected to inject an additional $1.92 billion into the South Australian economy over the next 25 years.”
World’s largest seating
The East Hall’s centrepiece is a new Plenary Hall with seating for 3500 people, which can be arranged in at least 15 different ways.
Tiered, hinged seating is used to create a theatre-style auditorium which, when lifted reveals a flat floor space for exhibitions or banquets.
The world’s largest rotating seat drums are set at the back of the hall. They are revolving auditoriums, which can be rotated 180 degrees within minutes and are capable of seating 320 people each. They can be used as part of the main hall or rotated to form two individual theatrettes.
One of the building’s features to be showcased at tonight’s gala opening is the Skyway, an elevated walkway which connects the centre’s three buildings (the redevelopment’s first stage adjacent Morphett St bridge was opened in March, 2015).
A cafe court is expected to open in November. It is touted as showcasing “a range of quintessentially South Australian food and wine experiences”.
Figures released in May (when the rotating seat platform was installed) by Tourism Minister Leon Bignell showed the state’s visitor economy reached a record $6.3 billion, a $900 million, or 14 per cent, increase on last year. Business travellers spend more than $600 per day — three times more than regular tourists.
“Already 95 conference events have been secured for the Adelaide Convention Centre between now and 2020, bringing more than 71,000 delegates to Adelaide,” Mr Bignell said yesterday.
“These events will generate some 244,000 bed nights and deliver $200 million in economic benefits to the state.”
Speaking in May, Premier Jay Weatherill said the centre’s overhaul, coupled with redevelopments of Adelaide Oval, Festival Plaza and Festival Centre, were creating a world-class precinct drawing people into the city.
“The redeveloped Adelaide Convention Centre will provide Adelaide with another premium facility to attract visitors and promote South Australia,” he said.