Sfera’s Park Suites & Convention Centre bought by Tea Tree Gully Council
Known for hosting opulent weddings, charity balls and formals, a premier Adelaide function centre has changed hands for the first time in its nearly 30 years.
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It’s one of Adelaide’s premier event and wedding venues where thousands of loved-up couples have said ‘I do’ in front of family and friends.
It has hosted prime ministers and politicians in its grand conference rooms, opulent Christmas parties and exceptional school formals.
Now for the first time in its near 30 year history, the family-run Sfera’s Park Suites & Convention Centre, in Modbury, has changed hands.
Tea Tree Gully Council has bought the business and 5725sq m of land overlooking the picturesque Civic Park, in a deal worth close to $10m.
Mayor Marijka Ryan says the “strategic acquisition” for future community requirements is based on it being adjacent to the council offices and library, on Reservoir Rd.
“We also acknowledge that the Sfera’s business offers function services and accommodation that are important to the local traders and Modbury precinct business mix,” Ms Ryan says.
“Council ownership ensures the community is able to have a say in the future of this important asset and avoid a private operator or developer changing the property into something that doesn’t compliment the adjoining Civic Park and council facilities.”
Ms Ryan says the purchase – $9m for the land and $625,000 for the business – will not affect council services or rates, with money budgeted for in previous business plans.
“Even after the acquisition and the completion of our current capital works program, we still retain about $8m in unallocated funds that are available for community assets such as this,” she says.
The Sfera’s business name will be replaced within the next six to 12 months, in accordance with the family’s wishes.
Its offerings of 22 accommodation suites and function hire for up to 950 people cocktail or 450 seated, will remain “for the foreseeable future” with all existing bookings to be honoured.
The suites also support medical outpatients at the Modbury Hospital, the council said.
Aarushi Mahajan Hollis and Daniel Hollis were married at the venue in July and complimented its location, accommodation offerings and scenic views.
“Part of the reason we chose the venue was the convenience of having accommodation on site as we had people from overseas attend the wedding,” Mrs Hollis says.
“Our wedding was also in winter and at a lot of places the indoor venues weren’t as pretty as this one. It was a fantastic location for pictures with the park just next to it – the venue was fantastic in every way.”
Sfera’s general manager Michael Sfera will stay on until late this year to transition the business into council operations and the Sfera family will continue to operate the business until March.
His parents, Tony and Carmel Sfera, started Sfera’s on the Park in 1997, after having built a strong reputation in the food industry as owners of Sfera’s Seafood Poultry and Game Centre, which opened in Campbelltown in 1985.
The council has also acquired the neighbouring freehold property at 171 Reservoir Rd, with a new business to open early this year.
Michael Sfera was contacted for comment.
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