Pelligra, Freemasons Greenlit for Adelaide’s Tallest Tower

Adelaide’s tallest tower has been approved.

After a day of discussion, the State Commission Assessment Panel greenlit the 183m Keystone Tower, a joint venture between high-profile developer Pelligra and the South Australian Freemasons, which owns the 245 North Terrace site.

The 37-storey tower will rise behind the masons’ heritage-listed Grand Lodge. The Great Hall will be demolished to make way for the glass-facade tower.

The tower will include the SA capital’s first Westin Hotel, a Marriott International brand, comprising 236 rooms, office space, a business lounge, function area, a wellness retreat and a three-level observatory.

▲ A render of the tower that will become the tallest in the city.

The Freemasons will continue to use the lodge, while the Adelaide Museum of South Australia’s History in partnership with the History Trust of South Australia will have five levels of the tower.

The panel determined the development application was “not seriously at variance” with the planning code. Consent comes with a number of conditions, including that drawings, internal and external photographs and a 3D scan image is taken of the Great Hall before its demolition.

The highrise must now be approved by Commonwealth air authorities due to its height, however Adelaide Airport did not oppose the development.

Keystone Tower lead consultant Michael Baragwanath said in a statement the project promises “not only to enhance Adelaide’s urban landscape but also to set a precedent for future developments in terms of pushing the envelope”.

▲ Renders of Keystone Tower, including space in the planned museum, bottom left.

In April, Pelligra successfully sought to lift the project, taking the height up from the 160m of the initial proposal.

Keystone Tower will be taller by 45m than the current tallest building in the city, Crowne Plaza on Frome Street.