Sandy Creek Resort proposed for Barossa in $30m plan for 100-bed hotel

A $30m hotel and resort would be built beside a Barossa golf course by a SANFL legend, in a plan to boost SA’s “much-needed” wine country accommodation.

An artist impression of the 100-room luxury hotel proposed for next to Sandy Creek Golf Club in the Barossa. Picture: ESD Planning and Design

A 24-hour hotel and resort would be built in the Barossa under a new proposal for new accommodation in SA’s wine country.

The 100-room, $30m project includes 80 hotel suites within a four-storey complex, function centre for conferences, a restaurants and bars – one incorporating a Cooper’s Brewery theme.

The proposal by developer Neville Roberts also includes 22 one, two, and three-bedroom detached villas with a separate freestanding bar and deck.

Built in the beautiful surrounds of Sandy Creek Golf Club, about 10km east of Gawler, it would also offer a spa, gym and swimming pools.

The hotel suites range from standard double rooms up to kingsize suites with mezzanines and ensuite bathrooms.

It would offer a 24-hour concierge, documents show, and include a 200-space carpark to allow overflow parking for peak days at the golf course as well as landscaping and nature play areas.

Some of the villas interconnect for larger groups or families.

A 100-room luxury hotel would be built at Sandy Creek Golf Club in the Barossa, under a proposal. Picture: ESD Planning and Design

Mr Roberts, the former VFL and SANFL player, said the resort would provide “much-needed hotel accommodation” to support growing Barossa Valley tourism.

The hotel would be about six minutes drive from the Lyndoch Recreation Park, which is undergoing a $42m upgrade into a regional sporting precinct and will host an AFL Gather Round match in 2025.

The hotel would be built off Williamstown Rd, along the lower section of the yellow border. Picture: ESD Planning and Design

He said the project was seven years in the making and was now in the final approval stages before the State Commission Assessment Panel.

Developer and former SANFL legend Neville Roberts in 2020. Picture: Sarah Reed

“I am extremely proud of the development and what it brings to South Australian tourism and in particular to the Barossa Valley,” Mr Roberts said.

“The South Australian Tourism Commission have acknowledged the shortfall in rooms for international visitors, so it will be a fantastic boost for the area to support the growing tourism trade and as a conference destination.

“Cooper’s Brewery are looking to incorporate one of their bar themes in the hotel promoting another SA icon.

“The journey has been a long one but worth persevering with. I believe SCAP and (Planning) Minister Nick Champion will be very supportive of an important infrastructure component of our great wine region and look forward to moving forward with them to make this happen.”

The hotel project has the support of Sandy Creek Golf Club, which currently owns the land the hotel would be built on, club captain Sandy Francas said.

The golf club would sell a small section of its land to the developer for the hotel.

The proposal includes a subdivision of that section of land on Williamstown Road to allow the project to go ahead and would require some rezoning.

The plans are open for consultation until June 20.