A motion has been successfully passed at the Adelaide City Council this week, to show support for The Crown & Anchor music venue, ahead of plans to demolish the establishment.
The councillors voted to write to the State Government expressing Council’s support for live music venues like the Crown & Anchor.
In comes as the pub shared that they had been officially inducted into the South Australian Music Hall of Fame for a decades-long commitment to original live music.
Posting on their Facebook page, the pub shared “We are honoured to have been inducted alongside other incredible venues. We love live music and hope to continue our legacy for many more decades to come (SAVE THE CRANKER!)”
Following this week’s motion, The Lord Mayor will now write a letter to Premier Peter Malinauskas asking for state support for the venue and for a change in the planning code for better protections for living cultural heritage.
“The Crown and Anchor is so much more than just bricks and mortar, it is the heart and soul of our city, and our live music scene barding many up-and-coming bands with the opportunity to perform, grow, and reach new audiences,” says Deputy Lord Mayor Keiran Snape when bringing the motion to the council.
“Almost everyone I talked to had their own experiences and fond memories of the pub affectionately known as “the Cranker”, saying it’s living culture was priceless.”
“It’s an important part of our built heritage here in Adelaide, heritage which is increasingly under threat, and must be protected,” Deputy Lord Mayor Keiran Snape concluded.
A development application was recently submitted in March 2024, proposing the construction of multi-level student accommodation on the Grenfell St site. If the application follows through successfully, it is likely the hotel will be demolished.
This new proposition has been met with immense disdain and pushback from the Adelaide live music community. The “Save the Cranker” initiative has received extensive public support through its Change.org petition, receiving over 17,000 signatures and counting.
When you think of live music in Adelaide, the Crown & Anchor Hotel probably comes to mind. The South Australian pub currently provides live music most nights of the week.
“The Crown & Anchor Hotel “the Cranker” is more than just a building. It’s a symbol of our community, our history, and our love for live music,” says the Change.org petition.
“It is a church to many. A safe haven, a discussion, a party, a listening ear, a teacher, a delightful ale. The hotel serves as a meeting place, a melting pot of society where people from all walks of life come together. Live music is our language.”
“This venue has been an extremely important part of my self-expression through live music, musical career, and social life. Knocking it down will wipe away all of the culture that can only exist in this spot,” says Sean on Change.org.
“Heritage is more than a facade. Heritage is about the culture of a place and space. The Cranker is an integral part of South Australian culture and cultural heritage as well as the building itself being of historic importance (aka the facade),” says Nora on Change.org.
For more info, visit the Crown and Anchor Facebook page here.
To sign the Crown & Anchor’s online petition, click here.
To join the Save The Cranker Facebook group., click here.
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