Adaptive reuse

Grieve Gillett Andersen Architects

"The beautiful thing about working with existing buildings is the instant soul that you don’t get with new builds."

Tony Zappia, Studio Nine Architects (see former Providence Strict Baptist Chapel project)

Reusing heritage listed places for new functions has many sustainable, cultural, economic and place-making advantages.

A heritage adaptive reuse project gives new life to sites by retaining, rethinking and reworking a place. It adds another layer to the building's history and respects its significance without erasing its past.

We hope heritage property owners and professionals alike will be inspired looking through some of the successful projects undertaken in the City of Adelaide.

Darling Building, Franklin Street, Adelaide

This ‘Classical Palazzo’ style four-storey building was designed by the notable architect, EH McMichael in 1916 for John Darling and Son, wheat merchant and flour milling company.

Left idle since 1997, it was in a dilapidated state; home to squatters & vermin, pigeon infestation, leaks in the roof slab and subsequent flooding, sagging floors, and years of dust and grime.

The recent adaptation has bought back to life an office building which many deemed unfit for use.

Discover more about this project from part owner and architect David Burton.

Former Adelaide Brewery, Wyatt Street, Adelaide

The Adelaide Brewery was established by James Walsh and operated on this site between 1845-1902.

After being utilised as a car workshop and parking lot for a period, the extant 1870s brewery buildings along Wyatt Street have now been adapted for use as offices for the engineering firm Wallbridge Gilbert Aztec.

Learn more about this long-term visionary project from part owner Geoff Wallbridge and architect Elizabeth Little.

Former Providence Strict Baptist Chapel, Finniss Street, North Adelaide

The former Providence Strict Baptist Chapel was constructed in 1913 as a place of worship for the local and surrounding community.

As metropolitan suburbs developed and the city’s population declined, the congregation numbers also suffered.

The chapel was sold in 2016 and has been adapted into a private residence.

Get an insight into this project from owner/builders Tony and Rosetta Siciliano and architect Tony Zappia.

Other examples

Colonial Mutual Life building, King William Street

The former Colonial Mutual Life (CML) building was constructed in two stages between 1935-1936. It has since been adapted to become The Mayfair, a boutique hotel with a rooftop bar and function space.

Photo credits: Left: State Library of South Australia, B 7079, c1936. Right: JPE Architects.

Electra House, King William Street

The original Citizens' Life Assurance Company office was built in 1901 and was known as Electra House from 1940. It has recently been adapted to a restaurant, including a contemporary outdoor dining area, providing a new public use in a busy City street.

Photo credits: Left: State Library of South Australia, PRG 631/2/124, c1910. Right: Studio Nine Architects.

Treasury building, Victoria Square

These buildings were effectively the centre of South Australian government and administration from the late 1830s until the 1960s. All the important colonial officials and later, state cabinet and the premier were accommodated here and much other business conducted including the work of the Governor and Chief Secretary’s Office, Treasury, Survey, Crown Lands, Public Works and Attorney General. It has since been adapted for use as a restaurant and hotel accommodation.

Photo credits: Top: State Library of South Australia, PRG 631/2/572, c1898. Bottom: City of Adelaide.

Model School, Grote Street

The former Model School was constructed in 1873-1874 and was divided into three sections to separately accommodate boys, girls and infants. In 1908 it formed part of Adelaide High School, along with the two buildings to the east. It has since been adapted for use as a childcare centre.

Photo credits: Top: City Archives, HP0290, c1910. Bottom: Flightpath Architects.

Our Boys Institute building, Wakefield Street

This building is associated with the Our Boys Institute (OBI) movement. Modelled on and supported by the Adelaide Branch of the YMCA, the OBI fostered the physical and mental health of teenage boys and was a forerunner of the various youth groups which flourished in the first half of the twentieth century.

Constructed in 1897, the Venetian Gothic style building, designed by FW Dancker, housed various lecture and games rooms, a library and reading room, a large gymnasium, indoor running track and swimming baths at the rear. The OBI occupied the building until the 1960s and is now used as boutique hotel accommodation.

Photo credits: Left: State Library of South Australia, PRG 631/2/497, c1897. Right: City of Adelaide.

Sir Samuel Way building, Victoria Square

Charles Moore, inspired by a visit to the Paris exhibition in 1878, took a gamble that paid off in 1916 when he demolished his shop, an open-air cinema and several dwellings to build a large reinforced concrete department store that was far away from Adelaide’s established retail centre of Rundle and Hindley Streets. In 1948, one of Adelaide’s biggest building fires in history completely gutted Moore’s in just 3½ hours. Only the concrete shell and the marble staircase survived. After hasty renovations, the store reopened six months later. It finally closed in 1979. The building reopened in 1983 as the Sir Samuel Way Building – a court building, in honour of South Australia’s longest serving Chief Justice.

Photo credits: Left: State Library of South Australia, PRG 280/1/18/5, c1918. Right: City of Adelaide.

Power Station, Grenfell Street

This former power station has been adapted into the National Aboriginal Cultural Institute, known as Tandanya, which has become an important local cultural facility.

Photo credits: Top: State Library of South Australia, B 10366, c1923. Bottom: Panache Photography.

City Destructor, Halifax Street

A portion of the former City Destructor site was adapted into a restaurant and public space, featuring the iconic chimney. The adaptation has since provided a new use for this visual icon of the city.

Photo credits: Left: City Archives HP12646. Right: Adelaide Living.

Fire Station, Tynte Street

Originally built as a shop with residence above, the building was adapted to become the North Adelaide Fire Station. It has since been adapted into themed holiday accommodation, providing a unique stay for visitors.

Photo credits: Left: Photographic Survey of North Adelaide 1976. Right: City of Adelaide.

Torrens Parade Ground and Training Depot, Victoria Drive

The Torrens Parade Ground and Training Depot was erected by the Commonwealth of Australia in 1936 as a military training depot and assembly ground for troops. The Depot was given back to the State in 2001. The building was subsequently adapted to provide a central city location for several ex-services organisations.

Photo credits: Top: State Library of South Australia, PRG 287/1/12/5, c1936. Bottom: Grieve Gillett Anderson Architects.

Lot 14, North Terrace

Originally the location of the Royal Adelaide Hospital, the heritage listed buildings on Lot 14 have been refurbished and are now home to a large number of tenants. Further new buildings and public spaces are planned for the precinct.

Photo credits: Left: State Library of South Australia, B 11099, circa 1946. Right: lotfourteen.com.au

Stock Exchange, Exchange Place

The Stock Exchange was built in 1901 and was crucial to the state's financial affairs. Surviving two fires, it has since been adapted for use by the Royal Institution of Australia as the Science Exchange to connect people with the world of science.

Photo credits: Left: State Library of South Australia, PRG 631/2/2, circa 1901. Right: City of Adelaide.

Bertram House, Grenfell Street

This building was built in 1897-1898 for the British and Foreign Bible Society - one of the largest publishing movements in the world.

The building has more recently been used as a coffee shop and also a cocktail bar.

Photo credits: Left: State Library of South Australia, PRG 631/2/1838, circa 1898. Right: City of Adelaide.

Brewing Office, Hindley Street

Originally built for the SA Brewing Company as their administrative offices in 1940-1941 this brick building designed by F Kenneth Milne now houses the University of South Australia’s School of Law.

Photo credits: Left: State Library of South Australia, B 10906, circa 1942. Right: City of Adelaide.

Lounder’s Boathouse, off Victoria Drive

Lounder’s Boatshed was constructed in 1913 for Mr JW Greenland to accommodate his business of building and repairing boats for sporting and recreational use on the adjacent Torrens Lake.

Harold Lounder started his apprenticeship as a shipwright in 1922 and took ownership of the business in 1936 until his retirement in 1976. The first Australian rowing team launched its bid for the 1924 Paris Olympics from this boatshed.

The building was restored and adapted for use as a cafe.

Photo credits: Left: City of Adelaide. Right: Andre Castellucci