Bold revamp plan for McLaren Vale’s historic main street includes public artwork

A major makeover plan for McLaren Vale’s main street has been revealed, including public art sculptures that will light up at night. Have your say.

Artist impression of the proposed immersive public artwork for McLaren Vale’s Main Rd. Picture: Onkaparinga Council

Part of McLaren Vale’s historic main street would undergo a makeover under a new plan, including colour-shifting “Instagrammable” public art.

Alfresco dining, lit-up trees, seating, shade and greenery are all part of the $650,000 draft concept plan by Onkaparinga Council to create a tourism streetscape from the 1850s-built McLaren Vale Hotel to Hewitt Dr.

A major focus will be decorative lighting for street activation to promote a night-time economy for local businesses and encourage people to stay longer in the main street.

Another key aspect is a “highly visible”, $260,000 immersive art installation outside Tintara Winery, comprising steel pillars with lighting installed at the top of each one to provide a night-time glow and ambience.

Designed by Sam Songailo and Hatch Studio, the pillars “embody the aspirations of McLaren Vale, symbolising the town’s ambition for renewal and growth,” the plan says, and are left “open to diverse interpretations”.

A council spokesman said the vivid purple, pink and blue colours for pillars in the draft plan were just options.

“The visual cue concept of 21 pillars was selected on the basis it would attract attention and encourage people to linger in the street,” he said.

“An objective of the streetscape plan is to subtly light built and natural features along the streetscape.”

The public artwork would be split into two sections, with three columns across the road from the main section. Picture: Onkaparinga Council.

Split into two sections, with 18 outside Tintara and another three across the street, the artwork aims to create difference experiences at day and night, and encourages people walk through them and take photos for Instagram “fitting for the social media era”.

“As darkness falls, cleverly hidden solar-powered LED lighting transforms the work into an inviting and mysterious world to explore,” the plan says.

Scotty Richardson, the manager of Manna McLaren Vale – a cafe in the heart of the town – said the artwork would be “interestingly received” by both locals and tourists.

“It’s colourful … it’s interesting,” the 29-year-old said.

The public artwork would be lit up by solar-powered LED lighting. Picture: Onkaparinga Council,

A draft concept plan for a major makeover of McLaren Vale's Main St has been released, featuring vibrant public artwork. Picture: Onkaparinga Council,

“I don’t mind the idea – it’s always good that they like creating different artwork. It will bring some attention to the area (but) it’s definitely different though.

“It’s a unique bit of artwork that I’d say would be interestingly received from the community.”

The upgrade also aims to smooth over Main Rd’s “level of inconsistency”, which includes heritage buildings such as hotel and former Produce Markets Building and other architectural styles.

Some areas are well landscaped, while other sections of Main Rd are “void of greenery”.

The makeover includes spaces for alfresco dining. Picture: Onkaparinga Council,

The section of Main Rd that would be revamped. Picture: Onkaparinga Council,

“Deciduous street trees frame the street and have a strong presence during the spring and summer months, however; the street looks bleak during the winter months.”

The upgrade includes year-long shade, new garden beds and incorporate “bold colours” and different textures such as timber, steel and heritage brick.

Decorative lighting will encourage development of a night-time economy in McLaren Vale.

Some on-street parking would be removed in front of the hotel and Fruchcos building to extend the footpath into the road, to allow space for outdoor dining.

However, the plan says alfresco dining isn’t part of the plan’s budget and is “dependent on private interest in funding the outdoor dining extension”.

Community feedback is open through the project’s Your Say page until May 6 and work is set to start September.

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Originally published as Bold revamp plan for McLaren Vale’s historic main street includes public artwork