Image credit: LANDSKAP
In the heart of Adelaide’s CBD is Rymill Park—known for being a hub of activity with festivals like Adelaide Fringe, CheeseFest and Harvest Rock—and now, fresh plans are underway to breathe new life into the popular parklands, centred around the revitalisation of the historic Rymill Park Kiosk.
With a proposed 21-year commercial park lease agreement between the Creative Place Hospitality Group (CPH)—the team behind Peter Rabbit in Hindley Street, Bloom in Thebarton and Lockwood General in Burnside—and the City of Adelaide, the future of the once popular kiosk promises to not only enhance the park’s amenities but make it a year-round attraction for the South Australian community.
Aiming to modernise the space while still respecting the park’s rich history, the planned updates to the Rymill Park Kiosk include a new accessible roof deck and undercover verandah, an updated floor plan with greater flexibility in seating arrangements, and new toilets and a lake path.
Another upgrade will include a new service area with plans to provide a takeaway and hire shop aspect to the kiosk.
Guests can continue to hire some of the iconic rowboats and will also have access to rent picnic gear like baskets and rugs and lawn games such as bocce, kites and sailboats—ensuring guests can sprawl out into the parklands and lake area to enjoy an elevated experience with friends and family.
One of the key features of the proposed revamped kiosk is its dual-purpose nature. By day, the plans are to operate as a café, offering quality food and beverage options to park-goers, and in the evenings, the space will transform into a hub for activations and events, enriching the park’s nightlife and fostering a sense of community.
The planned design of the kiosk reflects a commitment to sustainability and integration with the park’s landscape, all while maintaining a mid-century modern feel, reflecting its original construction in the 1950s/1960s.
Vertical greening, energy-efficient lighting, and retaining mid-century architectural elements such as crazy stone paving and re-pointed brick walls ensure that the kiosk will remain aligned with its surroundings while paying homage to the park’s historic charm and minimising environmental impact.
Community feedback on the proposed changes has been overwhelmingly positive, with 95% of respondents expressing support for the draft lease agreement.
Many residents welcome the prospect of increased commercial activity in the park, believing it will breathe new life into an underutilised area, whilst others have praised the inclusion of much-needed amenities and the commitment to maintaining public access and shady trees as part of the new plans.
The kiosk, which has been closed since 2018 following its operation by businessman Arnie Rossis and his family, will be a focal point for both short and long-term change in Rymill Park, thanks to the team’s vision from Creative Place Hospitality.
The group, originating in 2015, has extensive experience in planning, design and construction with the operation of their successful hospitality business, and their plans to reinvigorate the Rymill Park Kiosk aims to create an inclusive destination that the Adelaide community can not only support but enjoy.
The concept plans will be presented to the Council and further discussed in March of this year for approval of the new initiatives, with the aim to be open by next year’s Adelaide Fringe Festival.
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