Former West End Brewery site early favourite for Thebarton Barracks operations

One of Adelaide’s prized new parcels of land is as an early favourite to home occupants at the soon-to-be-razed Thebarton police barracks.

Dog handler Sargeant Simon Rosenhahn with police dog Bomber and Mounted officer Senior constable Darcy Wright with police horse Yass, at the Thebarton Police Barracks. Picture: Tom Huntley

One of Adelaide’s prized new parcels of land is as an early favourite to home occupants from the soon-to-be-razed Thebarton Police Barracks.

An official review has identified the former West End brewery site, at Thebarton, for a potential police facility before the new $3.2bn Women’s and Children’s hospital is built.

The 8.4ha brewery site, located 2.6km northwest of the Thebarton barracks on the CBD’s western fringes, is believed to be a favoured SA Police spot for mounted horse and dog units.

Senior government sources say parts of the inner west site are “in the mix” for a modern police facility but it was “too early to have a consensus”.

The West End brewery site at Port Rd, Thebarton is considered one of the most prized parcels of lands to hot the market in living memory. Picture: Beyond Property

It’s considered one of Adelaide’s most prized pockets of land. Picture: Property Beyond

The high-level project team, formed last month with $2.4m in funding, is also exploring parts of the Wayville Showgrounds and adjacent Keswick army barracks.

The locations meet a threshold criteria of a location within 5km of the CBD for operational reasons, being a large parcel of open land and could be “available”.

Any new site will require a several-thousand square metre paddock for resting police horses.

A final cost and size depends on where different police operations are located. The project team is assessing if police sections can be split.

While new laws to fast-track demolition of the barracks allowed for a new parklands location, current North Adelaide horse stables are seen as too politically risky, sources said.

The northeast corner pocket is located in the marginal seat of Adelaide, held by Labor’s Lucy Hood.

Officials said there were no decisions as inquiries are in the “very early stages”. Neither senior police nor the government would confirm any locations.

A move must occur by the end of next year.

Drinks giant Lion has put the sprawling beer property on the market, which experts believe could fetch between $60m and $80m.

But some government officials fear the government land agency Renewal SA - buying part of the land for SA Police - squanders a once-in-a generation opportunity for such a large housing estate on prime, inner-city land.

An application has been made to rezone it for “mixed use” including residential and commercial developments.

Part of the inner southern suburbs showgrounds is seen as a temporary solution as it would clash with the annual royal show.

The state government project team, led by Assistant Commissioner Noel Bamford, is also assessing part of the army’s Anzac Highway site.

But that has significant hurdles with it being Commonwealth defence land.

Up to 250 officers work at the Thebarton barracks including the security and emergency management command, mounted operations, dog squad, youth crime Operation Mandrake, Security Services Branch and the police band.

Parts of the Wayville showgrounds are also being explored where horses and other equestrian events have occurred, but that would only be a temporary measure. Photo Tom Huntley

The project team involves SA Police, the Premier’s office and department, Cabinet Minister Joe Szakacs’ team, Infrastructure and Transport bureaucrats, Treasury officials and SA Health.

In response to questions, Mr Bamford said the team was “in the very early stages of assessing potential sites”.

“All possible options are being considered to ensure (SA Police) maintains its operational capability with fit-for-purpose facilities” he said.

“It would be inappropriate to comment on specific sites as it may impact on future procurement processes.”

A government spokesman said officials were working together on the “high priority” project for the state-of-the-art facility.

“This is an opportunity to deliver a sustainable, long-term solution for police that provides them with the most contemporary technology and facilities to support their ongoing service to the community,” he said.