More than 120 influential South Australians have stepped forward to oppose a proposed 160-metre skyscraper set to be built in Festival Plaza, behind Parliament House.
In an open letter coordinated by the Save Festival Plaza Alliance, the group is calling for an immediate halt to the proposed 160-metre Walker Corporation tower.
Save Festival Plaza Alliance says the skyscraper would not only overshadow the city skyline but also detract from Adelaide being home to one of the most historically significant parliamentary sites in the world. This spot was the first place in the world to grant full political rights to women, and the first to legislate universal suffrage, regardless of gender, property ownership or race. These achievements are recognised by the Australian Heritage Council, which is now reviewing formal objections from the Alliance and other citizens.
“The proposal to build a 160-metre high, speculative office tower just metres from our nationally heritage-listed Parliament House is not only out of scale—it’s out of step with Adelaide’s values,” said Alliance Convenor Robert Farnan.
Among the list of signatories are former Premier Hon. Lynn Arnold AO, King’s Counsel Jane Abbey, former CEO Anglicare SA Archdeacon Peter Sandeman AM, Heritage Architect Elizabeth Vines OAM, planning experts, unionists, journalists, conservationists, historians, women’s rights advocates, and many more across law, media, planning, academia, and the arts.
The letter states that the development process failed to include comprehensive community consultation, violated the government’s own engagement charter, and overlooked potential alternative uses for the space, including a proposed Democracy Hub.
Norwood Councillor and Alliance member Dr Christel Mex shared, “It ignores alternative civic and sustainable visions for the site, with limited community awareness.”
Alliance member Stewart Sweeney said the group has prepared a cost-benefit comparison of the Walker Tower 2 with the proposed Democracy Hub initiative.
“This illustrates the economic, civic, sustainability and, above all, reputational and branding advantages of the Democracy Hub,” he said.
The Save Festival Plaza Alliance is now calling on the state government to move away from its hands-off approach.
Alliance Convener Robert Farnan said, “Walker Corporation is so confident of approval that they are already laying foundations and underground car parking. The Malinauskas Government must be asked how this has been allowed to happen when the proposed skyscraper has not yet been approved by SCAP?”
The growing pressure from high-profile South Australians and heritage advocates continues as the future of the Walker Corporation’s proposed skyscraper at Festival Plaza remains uncertain.
To read the letter and find out more, click here.
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