Sands and McDougall art deco facade to be part of new $470m Charter Hall tower on King William St

Built to lift SA’s spirits during the Great Depression, this part of the CBD was facing demolition – now it’s set to be saved.

The Sands and McDougall building facade will be retained as part of the tower plan. Picture: Colin James

One of Australia’s biggest property developers will incorporate a 1930s art deco facade in a proposed $470m development in the Adelaide CBD.

Charter Hall is working with the State Government to redesign a 15-storey office tower planned for the Southern Cross Arcade site on King William Street.

The company is redrawing plans it submitted to the Planning Commission for approval following a decision by Environment Minister David Speirs to support the state heritage listing of the facade of the former head office of stationery company, Sands & McDougall.

The original artist's impression of 15-storey office tower planned for 60 King William Street, Adelaide, which would have seen the 1930s facade demolished.

The Southern Cross Arcade, with the Sands & MacDougall building to the right.

The Sands and McDougall building on King William Street. Picture: Colin James

The facade was erected at the height of the Great Depression in a bid by the company – founded in the early days of the colony – to restore public optimism in the state’s economic future.

Charter Hall declined to comment but it is understood its design team is consulting the State Government Architect over the retention of the facade when the Southern Cross Arcade and Sands & McDougall building are demolished.

Charter Hall has a strong record of incorporating heritage features into its new buildings, with the GPO Office on Franklin Street and Raine Square development in Perth among two examples.

Its decision to proceed with the King William St project – which will include two floors of retail – follows a special council meeting of Adelaide City Council two weeks ago, which discussed supporting the heritage listing of the facade.

A render of Charter Hall's Raine Square development in Perth's CBD.

The GPO Exchange office tower in Adelaide. Supplied by Charter Hall.

The SA Heritage Council gave it provisional listing in July before embarking on public consultation, which closes late next month.

Mr Speirs sought input from Adelaide City Council before publicly announcing he would not be objecting to the listing, effectively ensuring it would be approved at the heritage council’s meeting in December.

“I understand developers were keen to demolish the building as part of a wider upgrade to the Southern Cross Arcade,” he said.

“The Marshall Liberal Government is extremely supportive of this project and will work closely with the developers to support a high-quality design outcome which incorporates the facade into the wider renewal of the precinct.”

Charter Hall’s decision to incorporate the facade comes as the Adelaide City Council publicly releases a draft heritage strategy for public consultation.

Lord Mayor Sandy Verschoor said the strategy had been developed to guide the council’s heritage management for the next 15 years.

“The City of Adelaide’s highly successful Heritage Incentives Scheme has assisted owners in the care and conservation of their heritage properties for over 30 years,” she said.

“We want to continue protecting, promoting and preserving our heritage.

“This strategy and action plan is designed to guide council in making decisions about heritage in the future.”

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Originally published as Sands and McDougall art deco facade to be part of new $470m Charter Hall tower on King William St