After over a century at the Thebarton Barracks SA Police (SAPOL) are bidding farewell to a significant piece of its history, calling the site home since its establishment in 1917. Now, 15 SAPOL units will spread out across the state at new sites, thanks to government funding.
They’ve handed over the keys to the heritage-listed Barracks to make way for the construction of the new Women’s and Children’s Hospital.
During the final walkthrough yesterday, Commissioner of Police Grant Stevens reflected on the long-standing significance of the barracks.
“For over a century, Thebarton Barracks has been a cornerstone of our operations, witnessing countless milestones,” he said.
Stevens described the departure from the site as “bittersweet” but emphasised the essential upgrade to better serve the community and police operations.
As the new chapter unfolds, SAPOL staff have begun transitioning to new locations, with some units temporarily housed until their permanent facilities are ready.
The move provides a leap towards modernisation, replacing the former, once state-of-the-art facilities that SAPOL had long outgrown.
“We had outgrown the stables and buildings, and this move has allowed us to acquire modern facilities,” Stevens explained.
The Thebarton Barracks Project Team, in collaboration with government bodies, worked diligently over the past two years to secure suitable new locations that fulfil SAPOL’s operational needs and requirements.
The relocations have been occurring progressively with the final units leaving throughout August and September. The first phase of the new facilities at Gepps Cross was recently revealed, housing the Mounted Operations Unit, with the new Road Safety Centre at West Beach is also set to open its doors to the public shortly.
In a gesture of remembrance and homage to the historical significance of the Thebarton Barracks, SAPOL prepared a short commemorative video to recognise the many years of service and the myriad of police activities that the site supported.
The 10 police buildings at the barracks were added to the state’s heritage list in 1985, honouring it’s deep history.
On the 1st March, 1917, the Barracks were officially opened by the Chief Secretary, The Hon. A.W. Styles, in the presence of the Commissioner of Police, Mr Thomas Edwards and numerous other dignitaries.
The need for this new facility arose from the overcrowding of the existing Police Barracks at North Terrace and Kintore Avenue, as well as the government’s intention to expand the area for educational purposes. In 1913, the government approved the construction of a new, purpose-built police facility on Port Road (formerly North Terrace West) in Adelaide.
As the Women’s and Children’s Hospital project commences, there is an acknowledgment of the past coupled with a focus on the future benefits that the redeveloped site will offer. SAPOL continues to expand across the state, with a strong commitment to enhancing operational efficiency and community service through improved and modernised facilities.
This transition, while physical in location, is a strategic shift towards future-ready police operations across South Australia.
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