Urrbrae Gatehouse at University of Adelaide’s Waite campus to be saved from demolition

Adelaide Uni’s state heritage-listed Urrbrae Gatehouse will be relocated, not demolished, it has been confirmed.

The Urrbrae Gatehouse will be moved to a new site – a decision welcomed by the University of Adelaide.

The State Government has decided to relocate the heritage-listed Urrbrae Gatehouse, after months of protests against the building’s proposed demolition.

Infrastructure and Transport Minister Corey Wingard confirmed the gatehouse, at the University of Adelaide’s Waite campus, will be dismantled and rebuilt at a new site on Claremont Avenue.

Saving the gatehouse was a key demand of independent Waite MP Sam Duluk, who declared he would work “constructively” with the government on the same day the ruling Liberal Party was plunged into minority.

The 130-year-old building was previously facing the possibility of being destroyed to make way for a $100m upgrade to the two Fullarton Road intersections with Cross and Glen Osmond roads.

It prompted several protests against the proposed demolition, including one organised by Mr Duluk and the Mitcham Historical Society.

“We have acknowledged the feedback from the community and the University and I am pleased to say we have come to a decision that will save the gatehouse,” Mr Wingard said.

Mr Wingard previously said there were “engineering risks” associated with relocating the gatehouse in one piece and that it would be too expensive.

People at the Save Waite Gatehouse protest in January. Picture: Russell Millard

The State Government will foot the bill for the relocation – expected to be more than $2 million – while the University of Adelaide has agreed to fund a refurbishment of the building’s interior.

“This solution also means we save 18 homes and trees with heritage or scientific significance from demolition,” Mr Wingard said.

The decision was welcomed by the university, which proposed the new location, but it’s still against the compulsory acquisition of part of its land at the Waite campus.

“While the State Government has formally acknowledged the University’s concerns, it has rejected our representations and will compulsorily acquire the land,” a spokesman said.

But, the spokesman also said the relocation will “enhance the building’s integration into activities on campus”.

“In its new location, it will become home to the many volunteers who are the backbone of support for the Waite Arboretum and its unique gardens.”

The Urrbrae Gatehouse was bequeathed to the university by renowned pastoralist Peter Waite in 1914.

Crossbencher Mr Duluk, who organised rallies against the proposed demolition of the building, also welcomed the relocation – but said it was “not ideal from a heritage perspective”.

After Narungga MP Fraser Ellis resigned from the Liberal party, forcing the government to rule with a parliamentary minority, Mr Duluk declared he would seek to negotiate with Premier Steven Marshall over the future of the gatehouse.

Saving the gatehouse was a key demand of independent MP Sam Duluk.

“Over the past five months, we have received thousands of petition signatures and held countless rallies to inform the government of the community’s displeasure,” he said.

“While I am disappointed that the State Government and the University of Adelaide have decided to use this cost-saving method, I’m glad that after immense community resistance, the government has conceded on their original position to demolish the 130-year-old … building.”

Mitcham Historical Society spokeswoman Joanna Wells said it was pleasing the gatehouse was not going to be demolished.

“Because it’s a piece by piece dismantling, every single brick and every single stone will be numbered and put back into its original place,” she said.

“We are really grateful that the community has been listened to … it felt like we were yelling in the wind, but we’ve got there in the end.”

In a Budget and Finance Committee hearing on Monday, Department of Infrastructure and Transport boss Tony Braxton-Smith estimated relocating the building would cost around $2.5m.

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