Major Projects Update: The city-shaping projects underway or planned in Adelaide

Adelaide is paving the way for a dynamic economic future with more than 30 major projects, worth in excess of $9.12 billion, either planned, approved or under construction on the horizon. The city's highly competitive cost base, combined with its supportive and business-friendly environment, is driving significant growth across a wide range of key sectors. Major investments in the Lot Fourteen and BioMed City innovation districts are driving job creation in cutting-edge fields such as space, machine learning, data, as well as health and medical sciences. Meanwhile, the thriving visitor economy is poised for significant growth with the addition of hundreds of new hotel rooms. As the university merger draws near, the demand for student housing is rising, and the increase in apartment developments is supporting Adelaide's goal of reaching 50,000 residents by 2036.

Explore some major projects to discover what's happening in the city.

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A sleek, 38-storey tower is set to be built in Festival Plaza, bringing in thousands of visitors and workers and more than $1 billion in annual economic activity into the city.

The new proposal supersedes the original plan by Walker Corporation to build a three-storey retail building on the Plaza, replacing it with a mixed-use tower that includes a variety of public amenities.

The new plan would deliver an improved heritage outcome, with a grand glass foyer offering continuous sight lines between Parliament House and Festival Plaza and improved public spaces. 

The previously approved three-storey option would have obscured views of Parliament’s heritage façade and balcony entirely.

Planning approval will now be sought for the tower, which would stand alongside the existing 29-storey One Festival Tower.

Value: Entire project, with inclusion of the first Festival Plaza building, worth $2 billion.

Status: Plans for approval submitted.

Key Facts

• Walker Corporation expects the project to be completed by mid-2027.
  
• There will be 36 floors of commercial office space.
• A high-quality food and beverage space with direct access from Festival Plaza will span across two levels.
• Under the plan there would be 800sq m of additional public realm adjacent to Parliament House.

The $400 million Keystone Tower on North Terrace is set to surpass 183m, making it the tallest building in Adelaide. 

The 37-storey building, which will tower over Freemasons Hall, incorporates a 240-room hotel, student accommodation, conference facilities, a business lounge, a wellness retreat, and a three-story observation deck.

Global hotel chain Westin Hotels and Resorts will make its first foray into the Adelaide market as the hotel operator following project completion. 

The site has been slated as the location for a new social history museum by the History Trust of South Australia. The Freemasons SA & NT will retain the existing historic hall as part of this transformative development.

The venture is a joint venture between Pelligra and South Australian Freemasons.

Value: $400 million

Status: Approved

Key facts:

• The tower would span 33,000sq m across 37-storeys.
• The Freemasons will retain more than 50 per cent ownership of the building, allowing it to boost annual donations to not-for-profit organisations from $2.6 million to $5 million.

Works have commenced on the Market Square development, which is expected to bring the number of annual Adelaide Central Market visitors up to 10 million.

The $400 million project, a joint venture between the City of Adelaide and ICD Property, incorporates an expansion of the Market, together with an all-electric commercial office tower, retail, on-site childcare, new residences, a premium hotel and activated public spaces known as Market Square.

The 39-storey development will not impact opening hours of Federal Hall where stallholders are located.

According to figures provided by developer ICD Property, 98 per cent of residences sold within the first few weeks of launch.

Treehouse Hotels will operate the hotel, which will have 248 rooms across 10 levels, following a competitive selection process undertaken by ICD Property and the City of Adelaide. 

The hotel will also feature a restaurant and bar with outdoor seating, a street-front cafe showcasing local produce, more than 500sq m of indoor and outdoor event space and more than 230sq m of fitness and wellness facilities.

The commercial component and first-stage apartments are due for completion in 2025, ahead of the new retail offering and hotel in 2026. 

Value: $400 million

Status: Under construction

Key facts:

• The project will feature 15,000sq m of A-grade office space.
• Available commercial space will be able to accommodate more than 750 workers.
• Affordable housing is slated for 15 per cent of apartments. 
• A further two new floors of apartments were added to the tower to cater for demand, while a $10 million penthouse caught the eye of buyers around the world.

The $400 million Entrepreneur and Innovation Centre (EIC) at Lot Fourteen is currently under review. 

The 16-storey, 41,000sq m building is central to the North Terrace precinct and specifically designed to suit the secure environment for defence, space, and hi-tech businesses, education and research institutions.

The Innovation hub, worth $20 million, will offer a dynamic and thriving hub for innovation, commercialisation and business for South Australia.

Value: $400 million

Status: Under review

Key facts:

• The site is located on the corner of Frome Rd and North Terrace.
• The development would create approximately 430 construction jobs at its peak.
• Once completed, the EIC would be the workplace for 3,000-4,000 workers across high-growth industries
• Lot Fourteen is the cornerstone of the Adelaide City Plan, with international tenants including Amazon Web Services, LVX Global, MIT bigdata Living Lab, and Google Cloud Services.
• Ten Gigabit Adelaide connected.

The $250 million Eighty-Eight O'Connell development is currently under construction, giving the long-vacant, old Le Cornu site a new lease on life.

The project which is rapidly taking shape features two, 13-storey towers and one 15-storey tower, connected by a two-storey podium.

The development includes a bustling market square, outdoor dining and play spaces, a Green Urban School, short-stay accommodation and apartment and townhouse living.

Plans include retail and commercial tenancies on the ground, first and second floors. These tenancies are anticipated to open in mid-2025.

There will be 160 apartments and four penthouses across the remaining levels and two basement levels with almost 400 car parking spaces.

The towers will have views to the ocean, city and the Adelaide Hills and include resident amenities such as an indoor swimming pool, sauna and squash court.

Value: $250 million

Status: Under construction. 

Key facts:

• The development would support about 430 jobs during construction and up to 500 ongoing roles once completed in 2024.
• Expected completion is the first half 2025.

The former Adelaide Metro building on King William Street is poised for a major transformation, with plans to refurbish and repurpose the dated structure into a modern hotel. 

The State Commission Assessment Panel gave Marco Separovic of JensenPlus and Michael Loucas approval for the "adaptive reuse of a seven storey building", as well as the construction of a further four levels.

There will be 129 hotel suites on floors one to six and eight to 11, as well as a basement restaurant. 

The State Commission Assessment Panel assesses developments worth more than $10 million.

Value:  More than $10 million.

Status: Approved

Key facts:

• A 36-storey Wyndham Hotel & Resorts was originally proposed for the site, however, the valid timeframe for approval lapsed.

Developer the Auta Group is revitalising 32-38 Grote Street, Adelaide, with a $200 million, 37-storey apartment tower that is currently under construction.

Spanning 1,214 sq m, the development will rise to 122m, making it the city’s fourth-tallest building.

The tower will offer 285 apartments, including six penthouses on the top two levels, two of which will feature over 600 sq m of living space.

Ground-floor retail spaces will include shops and cafes, along with car parking facilities.

Value: $200 million

Status: Under construction

Key facts:

• Synergy Construct is overseeing the project, due to be completed September 2025.

The Government of South Australia has planned a new $3.2 billion Women’s and Children’s Hospital in Adelaide at the SAPOL Barracks site.

Ground has broken for $306m worth of early works on the hospital’s 1300-space car park and a two-storey central energy facility.

The hospital will be co-located with Royal Adelaide Hospital and Adelaide BioMed City on Port Road.

More than 30,000 square meters of Park Lands would be more accessible to the public by being opened up, landscaped and paved, with new family play facilities and green spaces to enhance patient recovery.

Value: $3.2 billion

Status: Under construction

Key facts:

• Designed by Woods Bagot with Bates Smart, Jacobs and BD.
• 25 per cent larger than the current hospital in North Adelaide.
• It will house 56 more overnight beds than the current hospital in North Adelaide and a larger Emergency Department with 43 treatment spaces.
• There will be a dedicated helipad with direct access to critical clinical areas.

Siteworks have commenced on the Aboriginal Art and Culture Centre at Lot Fourteen on the site of the former Royal Adelaide Hospital.

The project, which was re-quoted for $400-$600 million in October 2023, will be known by its Kaurna name Tarrkarri (pronounced ta-ka-ri), which translates to 'the future'. 

Once completed, the Centre would provide a platform for engaging with the unique cultures and incredible stories of Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

An Aboriginal Economic Participation Strategy would ensure more jobs and opportunities for First Nations during the construction stage.

Original plans showed the building would span 12,500sq m over three levels, which would make it bigger than the SA Museum and Art Gallery of South Australia combined, becoming one of Australia’s largest cultural institutions.

The Centre was designed by Diller Scofidio + Renfro and Woods Bagot.

Status: Forward planning under consideration.

Key facts:

• It is estimated between 485,000 and 581,000 people would visit the centre in its first year, with the figure estimated to increase to up to 665,000 people by 2040.
• The project is part of the Adelaide City Deal.
• Construction was put on hold in October 2023, after the project’s managing contractor advised of a $50 million cost blow-out.

Plans have been lodged for a $350 million student accommodation tower at one of the city's oldest landmarks, the 186-year-old Holy Trinity Church on North Terrace.

The 30-storey building will feature 27 levels of student accommodation, with the remaining three slated to be church facilities.

Under the plan, there would be about 1000 beds, with a floor level of student amenities including a cinema, yoga studio, gym, games room, kitchen and dining area and outdoor terrace.

The historic Holy Trinity Anglican Church building would be preserved and revitalised through conservation efforts.

Demolition would be restricted to the more recent additions to the church hall, along with the removal of non-original structures.

Pending approval, the building is slated for completion in 2027.

Status: Planned

Key facts:

• The site was originally proposed as a 28-storey health and medical and health research hub. The plans were changed to meet demand for student accommodation as the Adelaide University merger draws closer.

Little National boutique hotel chain will expand beyond the East Coast and open at 100 North Terrace, offering affordable luxury accommodation.

The Doma Group will build the 23-storey building—between the Oaks Embassy and Horizons Tower—to include 140 standard rooms, 26 larger rooms and 48 one- or two-bedroom suites across 18 levels.

There will also be a two-storey private lounge and public bar, both with 360-degree views of the Adelaide Hills, beach and park lands.

Status: Site works have commenced.

Key facts:

• Completion is expected in 2025.

Almost 200 new residences will be available on the western side of Waymouth Street when the $106 million Cullinan development opens its doors.

The 18-storey tower, which replaces John Reynolds Music City, features 192 studio, one, two and three-bedroom apartments and penthouses, a gym, communal spaces and pool.

Residents will have access to a hi-tech car stacking system, which acts as a personal valet service.

The ground and mezzanine floors have been set aside for retail outlets, with a restaurant, cafe and sandwich bar lined up for the building.

Status: Under Construction.

Key facts:

• More than 200 jobs created during construction.
• Completion estimated for Q1 2025

The State Commission Assessment Panel has approved Melbourne developer, Gurner Group, in conjunction with landowner, Kennards Self Storage, to build a $1.25 billion mixed-use development at the former Australia Post site.

The plan features five towers, the tallest being a 28-storey, 95-metre apartment building on the corner of Grote and Blenheim Street.

The development will occur over 10 years allowing the developers to construct the five towers gradually, rather than all at once.

Six hundred apartments are planned for the development along with a 220-room hotel, 3,242sq m of retail space, 2401sq m of commercial space and 3,157sq m of recreation space.

Residents will have access to entertainment, retail, co-working spaces and a private club.

Status: Approved

Key facts:

• A carbon neutral development.
• The development proposes 15 per cent affordable housing.

Uninterrupted views overlooking the Adelaide Park Lands are among drawcards of the mixed-use Rymill Park Apartments development.

On the southeastern corner of Hutt Street and East Terrace, it would replace a two-storey office building and include 56 parking spaces, a penthouse, conference room, common lounge and rooftop garden.

There will be one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments available, including two penthouses on the top two levels.

Status: Approved

More affordable housing in the CBD is at the heart of a new multimillion-dollar project to transform the former Franklin Street bus terminal into a twin tower complex.

The City of Adelaide endorsed Renewal SA as the preferred proponent to redevelop the 6,850sq m site that would accommodate more than 1,000 residents across 392 apartments. More than a third of all apartments had been flagged as affordable housing for rent or purchase.

One tower would be 18 storeys, while the other would be 26 storeys.

The redevelopment, named Tapangka (Kaurna for “the experience of the journey”), would also include a 208- key hotel, significant commercial office space along with retail, food and beverage that would act as complementary extensions of the Adelaide Central Market experience.

Status: Under detailed design development.

Key facts:

• Affordable housing will be allocated to 35 per cent of the 392 apartments.
• The development would be able to accommodate about 1,000 people. 

Outdoor working areas, a bar and collaborative spaces are all part of a $10 million commercial development slated for Hutt Street.

The building caters to the hybrid working model and would suit businesses that are downsizing or do not need as many fixed desks or extra rooms.

Value: $10 million

Status: Approved.

Key facts:

• The building will include standard offices and suitable for medical consultants.

Prime land on North Terrace will be unlocked for new development under a Renewal Adelaide plan that could generate more than $250 million in construction activity.

Located opposite the Lot Fourteen Innovation District, Renewal SA will demolish the existing low-rise building at 275 North Terrace and has purchased the neighbouring property, previously owned by Budget Car Rentals, at 274 North Terrace.

The parcel of land is located on a corner site with three frontages and has uninterrupted views of the Adelaide Hills and Park Lands.

Renewal SA Chief Executive Chris Menz described the opportunity as a compelling proposition for a range of potential uses such as apartments, built-to-rent residences, hotel accommodation or purpose-built student housing.

Status: EOI

Key Facts:

• Renewal SA said the site could accommodate one or more towers.
• 275 North Terrace was previously owned by SA Health.
• 274 North Terrace will continue to operate as a Budget Car Rentals under a leaseback arrangement for a short period of time to ensure business continuity during the relocation process. 

A new Best Life Communities development will offer an affordable retirement living alternative for individuals over the age of 50.

Developer Angus & Gunson Pty Ltd was given approval to build the vertical village at 154 Angas Street, which will feature 154 one and two-bedroom apartments.

Apartments are now on sale.

Status: Approved. 

Key Facts:

• The developer says the plans are bespoke with premium finishes such as stone benchtops and wooden floors.
• The development will offer a lifestyle option distinct from a traditional retirement village.

A $30 million plan for an 18-storey hotel with retail tenancies has been approved.

However, the 1,042 sq m site, oppositive the Metrepolitan Fire Services station was sold in January 2024. 

The 256-room hotel was originally planned to operate under the TRIBE brand.

Value: $30 million

Status: Planned

A 29-storey student accommodation building will be built next to the Crown & Anchor after the historic hotel was spared the wrecking ball.

Following a groundswell of public backlash about developer Wee Hur Holdings' plan to gut all but the facade of the hotel, colloquially known as " The Cranker", the State Government passed legislation to protect the hotel from demolition. 

The legislation, which confirms the hotel's continued use as a pub and live music venue, would also apply to other historic live music venues, which would be selected by Planning Minister Nick Champion at a later date. 

Planning laws would also be amended to “protect significant live music pubs in the City of Adelaide area from neighbour complaints’’.

Following Premier of South Australia, the Honourable Peter Malinauskas MP's announcement the Crown & Anchor would be saved, Wee Hur was given the option to increase its building from 19 to 29 storeys. At the time, Mr Malinauskas said it would cost the developer an extra $150 million.

Other venues on the site Roxie's and Chateau Apollo would close in May 2025, while the Crown & Anchor and Midnight Spaghetti would close in July 2025 to make way for a two-year construction period.

Status: Planned

Key Facts:

• The latest development application—which confirms the “retention and continued use of the Crown and Anchor Hotel building as a Hotel”—was lodged on 11 October by Anchor Urban Development, a joint venture company of the site’s new owner Wee Hur Holdings
• During the public consultation period, the State Planning Assessment Commission received 800 submissions from the public.
• The Save the Cranker group put pressure on the State Government to save the pub from developers. It started an online petition attracting 21,000 signatories, before thousands protested in the street to protect the 171-year-old building.

A 33-storey student accommodation high-rise will tower over the Duke of York Hotel under a plan that will also see the iconic pub transformed into a cafe.

Melbourne developers TAL GP Projects have lodged plans for the building that would feature 450 units, ranging from one to four bedrooms, to accommodate up to 570 students.

The plan would include restoring the hotel's balcony that faces Currie Street to its former glory.

Status: Planned

Key Facts:

• The building would have shared laundry rooms, outdoor and indoor communal spots, dining areas, a gym, meeting rooms, media rooms and a games room.
• Nearly 300 bicycle parks are part of the plan.
• The developer said the project was a unique opportunity to address growing demand for student housing.

Eleven floors of A-Grade office space, a luxurious premium QT Hotel and a rooftop bar with sweeping views of the CBD are planned for the former Avant-Garde Furnishing Showroom.

The $180 million SIXTY2CURRIE development, which would mark QT Hotel's first foray into the South Australian market, would feature a rooftop bar and restaurant, ground floor dining, gymnasium, co-working spaces and end of trip amenities.

Plans were approved in 2019.

Value: $180 million

Status: Approved 

A parcel of land measuring just 375sq m will be the home of the 21-storey TraveLodge on Bentham Street.

The hotel, with 220 guest rooms, gym, cafe, bar, and meeting and dining rooms, was designed with local heritage in mind.

Given the heritage properties in the area, the hotel has been designed with a heavily grooved facade, a complimentary colour palette and deep reveals on lower levels.

Value: $58 million

Status: Approved

Key Facts:

• In late 2019 developer Mandala Property Group successfully sold the Travelodge Adelaide to Australia and Singapore-based M & L Hospitality.

A plan to build a 14-storey multi-functional complex at 399 King William Street has been approved. 

Under the Festival State Group's plan, the complex would have six floors of office space, with the remaining open plan living accommodation featuring four unique single, double and dual key bedroom options.

There will be a rooftop pool, function room and garden.

Key Facts:

• The land was originally planned to be student accommodation under developer Tengcheng Holding's plan to build a 15-storey building. That plan received criticism for tiny apartment sizes, insufficient natural light and ventilation.

A 27-storey hotel and accommodation building has been proposed for the former Red Cross site on Pirie Street under developer Auriga's $350 million plan to bring "unparalleled luxury" to the precinct.

The building, to be known as Acadia, would have 242 hotel rooms, a restaurant, bar, 75 residential apartments, 14 affordable studio apartments, pool, spa, gym, outdoor terrace, meeting rooms and 153 car parking spaces. 

The building would be all electric with a 7.5-star average NatHERS rating and 4.5-star NABERS Hotel rating.

Key Facts:

• Due for completion in late 2027.
• The site was previously slated to house an eight-storey mixed-use building with retail and office tenancies.

Woman and children subjected to domestic abuse will be offered a safe space to live under YMCA Australia's $15.7 million plan to provide crisis accommodation. 

The building, which is currently under construction, has 24 long-term, affordable rentals for woman and children.

The project is backed by a $5 million no-interest loan from the State Government.

Value: $15.7 million

Status: Under Construction

Key Facts

• Tenants will be offered support services.
• Prevention of Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Minister Katrine Hildyard said the project could save lives.
• The project is expected to be completed in 2025.

About 5,000sq m of vacant office space at 80 King William St will be converted into a 111-room hotel under the Pelligra Group and Veriu Group's ambitious plan to revitalise the dated building.

With construction due to commence in March 2025, the Veriu will offer a mix of studio, interconnecting studio and one-bedroom suites. 

The rooms will have fully equipped kitchens, desks, conference and meeting facilities as well as a gym and laundry.

The building will also have an additional five levels of prime commercial office space, which will to be renovated.

The hotel is expected to open in 2026.

Value: $30 million

Status: Approved

Key Facts:

• The building is 12 storeys.
• Aside from the Westpac branch on the ground floor, most of the office space is vacant.

A luxury development at 200 East Terrace—which includes a top storey, four-bedroom penthouse worth $9.6 million—is taking shape, promising to redefine upscale living in Adelaide.

The eight-level building features 33 apartments and has already secured at least $60 million worth of sales to local and interstate buyers.

International investment group Global Intertrade has partnered with Minuzzo Project Management for the development, which has sweeping views of the city.

Value: $130 million

Status: Under Contruction

Key Facts

• A sub-penthouse sold for $6.1 million, marking a record price in the CBD.
• The building has "topped out".
• The project is expected to be complete in September 2025.
• A penthouse has been priced at $9.6 million.

Around 21,000 sq m of premium office space will become available on Franklin Street following completion of the Kyren Group's $100 million, 17-storey building.

Construction is nearing completion at the "diamond quality" tower, which is surrounded by top-notch developments such as GPO (BHP), Tower 8, PwC House and Marriott Hotel.

The fully electric building will have 300 car parks, 172 bike parks and 20 "hotel style" showers.

It is due for completion Q1 2025.

Value: $100 million

Status: Under Constuction

Key Facts

• The building was designed by Brown Falconer.
• The Kyren Group was the developer behind the Crowne Plaza Adelaide and The Adelaideian.
  

Construction has started on a $120 million Crystalbrook Collection Hotel & Resort, replacing a former business car park at 15-19 Halifax Street.

The 13-storey, five-star hotel—called the Crystalbrook Sam—will have 206 rooms, a food and beverage offering on level 12 and the rooftop Eléme bathhouse and day spa.

Value: $120 million

Status: Under Construction

Key facts

• About 100 jobs will be created during the construction period, and an estimated 120 when the hotel is operational.
• Slated for completion in 2026.

A heritage building will be adapted to make way for a 15-storey tower.

SA-based architects SMFA had plans approved to build a 52m tower with 50 apartments of varying spaces.

The locally heritage-listed office building would be partially knocked down, with the main facade and side walls retained while the rear structures, roof and chimneys would be demolished

Status: Approved

Key facts:

• The site’s historical significance spans more than a century, having hosted more than 100 businesses since 1910.
  

To keep up to date with Council developments, visit Plans SA's major developments activity tracker. To find out more about investing in Adelaide, click here.