Hindley St revitalisation includes wider footpaths, trees, lighting and CCTV

Can seedy Hindley St be converted to a leafy cosmopolitan boulevard? See the new plans and artist impressions.

Adelaide’s notorious party strip will be transformed into a metropolitan boulevard with widened footpaths, trees and garden beds, under a $15m Adelaide City Council plan.

After numerous failed plans, the council has released new concept designs to make Hindley St more pedestrian friendly, which included narrowing the road and fewer parking spaces.

New concept designs for a Hindley St upgrade by Adelaide City Council. Picture: Supplied.

Lord Mayor Jane Lomax-Smith said the “long overdue” revitalisation put “people first” as eight times more pedestrians than vehicles used Hindley St at peak times.

“As most South Australians would know, Hindley St is desperately in need of a refresh – it was last upgraded in 1999,” Dr Lomax-Smith said.

“The upgrade will provide a high-quality pedestrian experience through design features that create shade, wider footpaths and a safer pedestrian environment by slowing traffic.”

The former council identified Hindley St as one of four cultural hearts of the city to be rejuvenated as part of its main street revitalisation program, which also included O’Connell, Melbourne and Hutt streets.

Stakeholder feedback was sought in 2022 and the first concept plans were released last year.

The current designs include improved CCTV, raised garden beds and three upgraded pedestrian crossings, including a raised crossing at the Leigh and Bank street intersection.

The new concept plans include a raised pedestrian crossing at the Leigh and Bank street intersection. Picture: Supplied

New public toilets will be installed in Produce Lane, with traders previously saying they were fed up cleaning urine and faeces from their doorsteps due to the lack of toilets.

Dr Lomax-Smith said the designs hoped to blend the streets distinctive night-time and daytime economies, with “flexi-zones” to be used for parking, outdoor dining or retail displays.

New pedestrian crossings are part of the Hindley St upgrade. Picture: Supplied

A new space for coaches, taxi and ride-share pick-up and drop-offs has also been outlined near the Mayfair Hotel and Hotel Grand Chancellor.

Adelaide West End Association president Taren Hocking said they were thrilled years of advocacy had come to fruition with the long overdue upgrade becoming a reality.

“We believe this is a landmark opportunity for the precinct and are excited to support the progression of the project through further engagement and collaboration between the council, business and community stakeholders,” Ms Hocking said.

Public drop-in sessions on the concept designs will be held at the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra building, 91 Hindley St, on Thursday May 2, at 11am-1pm and 5-7pm.

Final detailed designs are expected to be released later this year, with construction starting early 2025.