Application lodged for multistorey student housing on Crown & Anchor site on Grenfell St
A Singaporean company’s mega development plans for one of Adelaide’s oldest pubs have sparked fears it could spell the end for the venue. Have your say.
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A proposed multistory student accommodation development on the site of one of the CBD’s oldest pubs has been met with significant backlash, with fears for the future of Adelaide’s live music scene.
On Tuesday, Singapore-based purpose-built student accommodation developer Wee Hur Holdings Ltd applied for planning consent with the State Planning Commission for construction of a multi-level student accommodation building at 188 and 196 Grenfell St.
The sites are currently home to venues Roxie’s and Chateau Apollo, Midnight Spaghetti and the heritage-listed Crown & Anchor – best known to Adelaide’s live music fans as the ‘Cranker’.
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Wee Hur Holdings’ application proposes “partial demolition and adaptive reuse” of the site, alongside an “ancillary shop on the ground floor and associated amenities, services and landscaping”.
Examples of adaptive reuse developments of heritage-listed sites – which often involves retaining the facade of the building – include the former Adelaide Brewery site on Wyatt St, Electra House on King William St and Lot 14.
It is unclear whether the hospitality venues would be directly impacted by the development.
On Friday, Greens MLC Robert Simms said the venue’s closure would be a “huge loss” for Adelaide’s cultural heritage, urging developers to eye a different location for student housing to preserve the CBD’s already flailing hospitality and arts scene.
“For over 30 years, countless local and touring independent bands have entertained South Australian audiences on the Cranker’s stage,” Mr Simms said.
“While it’s clear that there is a significant need for new housing to address the ongoing housing crisis, there are already vacant sites in the CBD that could be investigated for use instead of constructing a tower on the location of one of the handful of CBD pubs that still regularly hosts live music,” he said.
Rumours have been circulating for years regarding the future of the site and venues, after the 188 Grenfell St site was purchased by South Australian developer Karidis Corporation in 2004.
In 2013, Karidis filed an application to construct a 13-level apartment building 188 Grenfell St – however, this project was ultimately scrapped.
At the time, Mr Karidis said his business would support the adjacent Crown & Anchor.
Karidis Corporation then acquired the Crown & Anchor site in 2016, after owners Kevin Gregg and Greg Fahey raised concerns that a housing development could impact the long-term viability of the live music venue.
“History tells us that it has always been difficult when you have residents living right alongside you, the operations of the hotel have to adapt. Particularly for a hotel that is truly a live music venue,” Mr Gregg said.
According to realestate.com.au, the Crown & Anchor site sold for $2.3m.
At the time, an Adelaide City Council spokesperson said demolition of the heritage-listed hotel would not be supported.
City of Adelaide documents have revealed that, in 1991, a developer entered into a Land Management Agreement (LMA) with the council in a bid to develop a five-storey office building on the site while retaining the Crown & Anchor’s facade.
However, this development did not proceed.
In October 2023, the council agreed to rescind the LMA – opening the door for a new development application.
Karidis Corporation confirmed that it still owned the land, but declined to provide details about any future development.
Wee Hur Holdings Ltd has been approached for comment.
The construction and property development company is behind the CBD’s 17-storey UniLodge high-rise on Gray St, which houses 756 students, as well as the $90m, 16-storey Y Suites on Waymouth St, with 811 beds.
Earlier this month, JLL Australasian head of research Andrew Ballantyne told The Advertiser higher migration rates were translating to demand for alternative types of housing, including purpose-built student accommodation.
“If you look at the student numbers, pre-Covid South Australia was 4.5 per cent (share of Australian total) international student enrolments – it’s now 5.9,” he said.
“So it’s actually been growing share over that time period, which is obviously positive, not just for population growth, but positive for the education sector, positive for PBSA.
“Essentially, purpose-built student accommodation is pretty much full and they’re seeing some pretty good rental growth.”
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Originally published as Application lodged for multistorey student housing on Crown & Anchor site on Grenfell St
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