Kings Head development plan includes 16-storey tower
A hotel could rise above one of Adelaide’s oldest and best-known pubs under a plan that also involves some demolition of the heritage-listed building.
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Parts of the historic Kings Head hotel in the CBD could be demolished to make way for a 16-storey tower planned for the King William St site.
Developers have submitted plans for a major development including a mixed-use building with serviced apartments, shops and new function areas.
It would involve partial demolition of the state heritage-listed building, which first opened as a pub in 1876.
Chris Vounasis, director of Adelaide planning consultancy Future Urban, said demolition work would involve the removal of the ground and first floor areas, which were later additions to the rear of the original hotel building.
“The proposed development seeks to continue the historical use of the Kings Head hotel as a hotel/licensed premises,” he said.
“A number of internal works are proposed to reinvigorate the social and entertainment offering and to reinforce the hotel’s continued future operation.
“This will be complemented by a mixed-use building to the rear that will comprise both serviced apartments and residential apartments.”
At 53 metres, the building will include 36 “twin key” or 72 single bed serviced apartments, a penthouse apartment, a new shop at ground level and a hotel function area on the first floor.
Kings Head lessee Patrick Marcucci is behind the new development plans.
He relaunched the venue as a pub, cafe and Pizzeria Regina a year ago after its previous operator fell into liquidation in April 2020.
Mr Vounasis said that once planning approval had been secured, the developer would proceed to the detailed design phase to ensure the construction process can commence “as soon as possible thereafter”.
The Kings Head is one of Adelaide’s oldest and best-known pubs, where local rock band The Masters Apprentices got its start.
The Vaughton family once owned the hotel, and son Brian was the drummer in the Adelaide band, formed in 1965.
However, it is one of several inner-city pubs to be targeted by developers in recent years.
They include the Hotel Wright St, where an 18-storey, $57m office and apartment tower was approved in 2017, and the Newmarket Hotel on the corner of North Tce and West Tce, where developers are planning to build two apartment towers.
Both sites remain dormant while developers consider their respective projects.
Meanwhile the state heritage-listed Hotel Tivoli was recently sold to local businessman Tom Waltham, who is planning to convert the venue into offices.
Like many other CBD pubs, the Tivoli struggled to compete as Adelaide’s live music scene dwindled and the city’s small-bar scene emerged.
Originally published as Kings Head development plan includes 16-storey tower
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