In a move to preserve Adelaide’s live music scene, Premier Peter Malinauskas has announced legislation to protect the future of the Crown and Anchor Hotel. This legislation will safeguard it against potential demolitions and overdevelopments, ensuring it continues to operate as a hotel and live music venue.
This announcement came after an agreement between the State Government, Wee Hur Holdings Ltd, and the Save the Cranker campaigners, marking the end of extensive negotiations. The developer originally planned to demolish the hotel, located on Grenfell Street, to construct a 19-storey student accommodation building while maintaining only the façade. This plan has now been revised; the developer is allowed to erect a 29-storey building adjacent to the hotel. The State Commission Assessment Panel is tasked with reviewing the development application within 10 business days of its lodgement.
Should approval be granted, Wee Hur will invest an additional $150 million into the project to provide student accommodation aimed at alleviating the current housing crisis faced by higher education students. The project will include the installation of noise attenuation and acoustic treatments at the hotel to manage sound levels effectively, without disrupting its operations as a music venue.
The Crown and Anchor will have to temporarily close to facilitate the construction and installation of acoustic treatments. Nonetheless, any closure is capped at a maximum of two years, ensuring the hotel’s operational hiatus is kept to a minimum. Upon completion of the works, the current operator will have the first right of return to the venue, reinforcing continuity.
To strengthen Adelaide’s status as UNESCO’s City of Music, the SA Government plans to amend planning laws further. These amendments will protect significant live music venues throughout the city by requiring future developments nearby to include soundproofing measures.
Premier Malinauskas praised the collaborative effort that led to this arrangement. “Together, we’ve saved the Cranker. This is what can happen when Government, the private sector, and the community collaborate for mutual benefits,” he stated. He pointed out that no taxpayer funds were involved in preserving the Crown and Anchor, emphasising the venture’s self-sufficiency and benefit to both the community and investors.
This development poses a substantial shift in how live music venues are treated amid urban development pressures, ensuring that they continue to thrive as cultural hotspots while balancing the demands of city growth and residential needs.
More News
