Renewal SA Spearheads $1bn Brewery Precinct Development

Renewal SA will spearhead the redevelopment of the West End Brewery site at Thebarton after the South Australian government acquired the 8.4ha site from Lion Brewing for $61.5 million. 

Plans for 1000 new homes include at least 200 affordable housing properties as part of a mixed-use development and commercial precinct in Adelaide’s inner-west. 

Premier Peter Malinauskas said Renewal SA would ensure that affordable housing was prioritised. 

“We’re serious about addressing the housing supply issue and we see this site as providing another opportunity to do that,” Malinauskas said.

The landmark Port Road site will be developed into a $1-billion mixed-use community compromising 1000 new homes, commercial space, retail and greenspace activations that will create a bustling new precinct.

Renewal SA will act as master developer of the prime 8.4ha parcel and work in partnership with industry to deliver the project after being selected as the preferred proponent.

Renewal SA was also developing social and affordable housing on the site of the old Franklin Street bus station. 

▲ Heritage buildings on the former Lion Brewing site would be retained as part of the $1-billion mixed-use precinct development.

The West End Brewery closed in June, 2021 after 135 years of brewing at the site.

Heritage buildings would be retained and construction was slated for 2025, with completion forecast for 2027. 

The government has faced criticism from the South Australian development industry amid claims it should not be outbidding developers in the open market for shovel-ready sites. 

Groups including Perth-based housing group Peet, Amulet Property and a joint venture between Commercial & General and McMahon Services were all outbid. 

Malinauskas said the government was stepping in to buy key pieces of land for development to address the current supply-side issues in the housing market.