State Government offers University of Adelaide $2m for the relocation of the Urrbrae Gatehouse

The University of Adelaide has been offered an extra $2m to move the Urrbrae Gatehouse itself, or else it will be demolished.

The Urrbrae Gatehouse will be demolished, unless Adelaide Uni can find a way to move it. The State Government has offered the uni an extra $2 million towards its efforts. Picture: Tricia Watkinson

The State Government has offered the University of Adelaide an extra $2 million towards moving the state heritage-listed Urrbrae Gatehouse.

Starting next week, the government will start a tender process for upgrades to the Fullarton Road inersections with Cross and Glen Osmond roads.

The $100 million project, which is expected to cut travel time and improve road safety, will require the Urrbrae Gatehouse to be demolished.

Transport minister Corey Wingard said the decision was made to remove the building because of “engineering risks associated with attempting to relocate it and the financial risk to taxpayers”.

“After meeting with representatives from the University of Adelaide, which owns the Gatehouse and the land it sits on, we’ve now made available to them the option to attempt this themselves,” he said.

Transport minister Corey Wingard said the road upgrades are essential to improve road safety and reduce travel times. Picture: Sue McKay/Getty Images)

“We’ve offered to make the $2 million we’ve set aside for State Heritage projects as part of the upgrade available to the university to assist in the endeavour, along with the compensation they’ll receive through the land acquisition process.”

The university, however, was concerned the government was trying to “shift responsibility” away.

“The University has made its position on the proposed intersection change very clear: we are entirely opposed to the acquisition of Waite campus land and its impact on the heritage of that land and the legacy of Peter Waite,” a spokesman said.

The spokesman indicated the university’s intentions to “pursue its legal rights under the compulsory acquisition process”.

Mr Wingard said, pending final valuations, the University of Adelaide will have approximately $4 million in total to use in attempts to relocate the Gatehouse.

This includes compensation in the acquisition process, plus the extra $2 million the government is offering.

Mammoth Movers, a company that specialises in moving buildings, would be the firm engaged in shifting the building.

“The State Government’s priority is to save the 18 homes and as many trees with heritage or scientific significance as possible and that remains the case,” Mr Wingard said.

“I’ve asked the department to continue to work with Mammoth Movers on a new relocation strategy that may save additional trees from demolition and a revised plan is expected shortly.”

Mr Wingard said there were 40 crashes reported at the Glen Osmond/Fullarton Road intersection between 2015 and 2019.

There were 35 crashes at the Cross Road/Fullarton Road intersection during the same period.

“Motorists who use the Fullarton Road corridor know all too well the frustration caused by unnecessary delays and safety risks,” he said.