Exit the Dragon: SA Developer’s Mural to Go, 22 Storeys Greenlit

To build a 22-storey luxury apartment tower approved by a state panel this week, a first-time Adelaide property developer will reluctantly have to dismantle a mural of a dragon and a brave girl that he commissioned to lament the war in Ukraine.

Lawyer Roger Sallis set up New Dawn Developments last year to progress the $75-million apartment building he is planning for the site of his office and an adjacent Muay Thai gym at 33 Angas Street in Adelaide’s CBD.

“As much as I love the girl and I love the dragon—they do add to the amenity of the area—I’m going to develop the tower,” Sallis told The Urban Developer.

“I’m very sad to say goodbye to them.

“I’ve spoken to the artist and he’s sad as well but he supports the purpose and direction [of the approved tower] and I’ll see what I can do with the mural.” 

A few months after the war in Ukraine erupted in February 2024, Sallis commissioned South African muralist Skubalisto to produce the wall art. But now Sallis has bigger plans for the site that include 14 levels of luxury accommodation above three levels containing a total of six affordable apartments and three other two-bedroom apartments.

“I wanted something that was timeless, that was going to last that would be beautiful and add to the amenity of the area on a permanent basis rather than something that was a fad that would pass,” he said of the tower that was approved by SA’s State Commission Assessment Panel on March 25.

“With the building, I want to make a contribution to the community and I want to do something different.

“Hence, it’s called ‘New Dawn’ and I’m looking at that as a sign of hope for the future.”

▲ A rendering of New Dawn, left, alongside the already-built Kodo tower, right.

Levels five to 17 of New Dawn would each have only two apartments ranging from 194sq m to 200sq m of internal floorspace and between 20.8sq m and 41sq m of balcony space.   

“You’ve got a core of internal lifts, so you’ve got two lifts, the lift opens up onto your floor and there’s no-one else there,” Sallis said.

“Internally, the building’s themes are light, space and stylish class throughout.

“What I’m aiming for is a place where people can have a home and not just feel like you're living in an apartment or a hotel.” 

Level 18 would have two penthouses, a northern one with 200sq m of internal floorspace with a 20.8 sq m balcony and a southern one with 194sq m of internal floorspace and a 21.8sq m balcony.

On a 522sq m roof terrace, the northern penthouse would have an additional 76sq m balcony and the southern one a 74sq m balcony, while all other apartments would share a 203sq m terrace.

“The building is designed to capture light and airiness,” Sallis said of the tower designed by Adelaide-based Matthews Architects.

“The ceilings are higher.

“You open your front door and straight away you’re looking at a skyscape above the mountains or the city through a very large balcony expanse.”

▲ A rendering of the living area and balcony of one of New Dawn’s south-facing apartments.

For the use of residents, 53 car spaces and a gym with a verandah and sauna would be located on the the first floor. The ground floor would have space for 72 bicycles.

Sallis said the tower would be a “classically beautiful building”.

“It’s not contemporary architecture; it’s what I like—simple but beautiful,” he said.

“I’m hoping to put a French pattisserie and gateaux shop called ‘Le Temps’ on the ground floor.

“I’ve found the bakers; they make the best French treats I've ever tasted—they’re in Port Lincoln.”

▲ Ground-floor entryways and a proposed patisserie would replace the mural at New Dawn.

Much like Puff the magic dragon who lived forever, Sallis’s fire-breathing serpent will survive—because it is mounted onto the facade of the existing two-level building, above the Muay Thai gym, and can be detached.

“Unfortunately, the girl will have to go because she’s on the bricks,” Sallis said.

Sallis’s office and the Muay Thai gym would be demolished. Neither the legal practice nor the gym, run by a former Thai boxing instructor of Sallis’s, would be located at New Dawn.

“I fought and trained in Thailand,” Sallis said.

“Thai boxing looks violent and you shouldn’t watch it, and I hated watching it, but once I got to do it myself in the ring I realised it wasn’t violent at all.

“It was an artform and you didn’t feel any pain because God invented endorphins.”