Modern art gallery not in old Royal Adelaide Hospital redevelopment’s first wave

A $250 MILLION modern art gallery will not be part of the first wave of development for the long-awaited old Royal Adelaide Hospital site overhaul.

An artist’s impression of a possible development on the old RAH site. Its future is yet to be decided.

A $250 MILLION art gallery will not be part of the first wave of development for the long-awaited old Royal Adelaide Hospital site overhaul.

A preferred developer for the $1 billion RAH project has already been nominated, but Premier Jay Weatherill will today announce two high-powered groups to investigate a site for the proposed gallery for contemporary art.

A steering group, to be chaired by former Sydney Opera House director Michael Lynch, will assess the benefits and hurdles of sites including the old RAH, the Torrens Riverbank precinct and Port Adelaide’s inner harbour.

The Advertiser last week reported a deal to redevelop the prized 7ha old RAH site was close to being finalised, but wrangling was continuing over whether the contemporary art gallery should be located there. Mr Weatherill’s announcement today of detailed further site investigation for the contemporary gallery means it will not be among, at least, first-stage plans for the old RAH.

The steering group of prominent Australians, chaired by Mr Lynch, will consider options for a new contemporary cultural institution in South Australia.

Its members also include national Fair Work Commissioner John Lewin, who Mr Weatherill has previously described as a “good friend” and “extremely well qualified”, and Helen Nugent, an Origin Energy board member and Australian Rail Track Corporation chairwoman.

The Government allocated $500,000 in the July 7 State Budget to advance the proposal for an Adelaide contemporary art gallery.

“South Australia has always been at the forefront of culture and the arts in Australia – from the establishment of the Art Gallery of South Australia 135 years ago to our status today as the Festival State,” Mr Weatherill said.

“An iconic, modern, contemporary artistic institution could be a jewel in our cultural crown.

“I’m delighted we’ve been able to gather prominent identities, led by Michael Lynch, to assess this idea and see whether we can find a feasible pathway.”

Ms Nugent has served on several artistic boards, including as deputy chairwoman of Opera Australia and chairwoman of the National Portrait gallery.

Mr Lewin has served on the boards of the Art Gallery of South Australia and the Australia Council’s Visual Arts and Crafts Board.

put Adelaide at the heart of the art world.