Genworth Group Takes First North Adelaide Tower Public

Genworth Group want to take its classic mansion style skyward under plans for an eight-storey building at North Adelaide, the first of several applications expected for the site.

The site formerly was owned by the Lutheran Church of Australia and housed the church’s residential college, library, apartments, hostel, townhouses, a library, tennis court and offices.

Genworth Group, led by Christos Diamantis, picked up the “once-in-a-century” 1.9ha site for $50 million in August last year along with three partners.

The consortium was “looking to build their own luxury mansions” and the deal included what was reported to be the most expensive single-home parcel in the history of the SA capital.

The proposed building designed by Tridente Boyce architects has a stepped design and comprises 33 apartments, each with two outdoor terraces, for the site at 201-219 Archer Street.

Forty-eight bicycle and 58 carparking spaces in the basement are proposed.

The building is planned for a 4065sq m portion of the site near the Wellington Square parkland.

▲ A rendering of the eight-storey building proposed for the North Adelaide site.

The North Adelaide-based group has previously built large French chateau-inspired homes in South Australia along with modern mansions in the Adelaide Hills.

Diamantis told The Urban Developer at the time of the acquisition they were considering several plans for the 12-site parcel including townhouses and two eight-storey towers, one of which was to be build-to-rent.

Also on the North Adelaide site is the state-heritage-listed 1882 Hebart Hall, which is expected to be turned into a home by a Sydney-based member of the consortium. The property accounted for $15 million of the sale price.

The Archer Street plans are on notification with PlanSA until December 18.

Meanwhile, the Genworth Group has started construction nearby on its five-townhouse development at 185-187 Melbourne Street, also in North Adelaide.

The modern four-storey homes are due for completion in the second half of next year. Each of the three-bedroom homes include a private lift and rooftop garden.