Plans for a 16-storey residential tower to be built above North Adelaide’s Piccadilly Cinema have been unveiled, with much of the historic building to be demolished and rebuilt in the process.
The development, announced by SA-based Wallis Entertainment and Premier Peter Malinauskas, will see the cinema’s O’Connell Street facade retained and significant heritage components inside repurposed. The cinema itself will be rebuilt alongside the new apartment tower.
“Eighty Eight O’Connell, and now The Piccadilly redevelopment, show what can happen when you get investment moving and give a precinct a future,” the Premier said, adding that Adelaide was “growing up and out” and needed to “be prepared to do things differently to get homes built”.
The plans follow a difficult period for the venue. The Piccadilly has been beset with structural problems, and in July, flooding caused between $5,000 and $10,000 in damage, leading to the postponement of the state Liberal Party’s AGM.
Heritage features to be retained
Under the new development plan, the cinema’s existing spiral staircase and some of its Art Deco interiors will be retained. Cinema One, the upstairs cinema, will be “replicated and reinstalled”, according to Wallis Entertainment. The beloved mezzanine level and stained glass windows will also be kept.
The Piccadilly recently underwent a significant upgrade, including boutique luxury cinemas downstairs and a new front bar. These will now be rebuilt as part of the new project.
Wallis Entertainment director Deanna Flynn Wallis said the cinema “holds a special place in the hearts of so many South Australians” and that voluntary community consultation would begin tomorrow, before a final plan goes through the normal assessment process.
“This is not about replacing what makes The Piccadilly special,” she said. “It is about restoring and celebrating those elements, while creating a sustainable future for the cinema.”
“The cinema will remain at the heart of the site, with the development designed to support its ongoing operation and contribution to the cultural life of the precinct.”
$500 million developer fund now open
The state government has also announced that its $500 million pre-sale guarantees fund to support off-the-plan apartment developments is now open for applications.
The fund, a Labor election commitment, has been given an expanded scope. Originally targeting shovel-ready developments only within the Adelaide CBD, it can now be accessed for developments in North Adelaide and the Port Road precinct in Adelaide’s inner west.
The state government recently announced it would open consultation on increasing height limits for a section of Hindmarsh to enable developments of up to 20 storeys. Building heights across that area are currently capped at either two or three storeys.
“This expansion provides an opportunity to strategically increase the development pipeline for support, getting projects off the ground quickly by ensuring developers can meet lender pre-sale requirements, secure construction finance sooner and get more apartments underway faster,” Treasurer Tom Koutsantonis said.
The Piccadilly – 181 O’Connell St, North Adelaide SA 5006
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