DefenceChris ThomsonWed 07 Oct 26
Hundreds of Homes Likely for Repurposed Adelaide Defence Barracks
Opportunities are likely for private developers to deliver hundreds of homes in Adelaide’s inner north and south as the South Australian and federal governments move to fast-track the release of two Defence barracks.
State development agency Renewal SA has started its due diligence for the redevelopment of Hampstead Barracks at Greenacres, 7km northeast of the Adelaide CBD.
Renewal SA is looking to acquire the site, which has been slated for divestment by the Department of Defence.
A preliminary structure scheme for Hampstead Barracks [as pictured above] shows how the site could accommodate 400 homes. These could include apartments and two and three-storey townhouses centred around a large public park.
In 2027, Defence staff based at Hampstead Barracks will relocate temporarily to Keswick Barracks, which is on Anzac Highway beside the Adelaide Showground. The personnel will move permanently to upgraded facilities at Warradale, in Adelaide’s south-west, by 2030.
Renewal SA owns the Keswick Barracks site, having secured the land through an AUKUS-related land swap with the federal government in 2023.
Renewal SA chief executive Shane Wingard said both the Hampstead Barracks and Keswick Barracks sites presented opportunities to bring more housing to established areas close to jobs, services and public transport.
“The earlier-than-expected release of these sites gives us a chance to start planning now and ensure new housing can be delivered as quickly as possible once the land becomes available for development,” Wingard said.
He said Renewal SA would probably partner with the private sector to develop the sites.
“We’re open to master planning and delivering the sites, but the most likely approach is to partner with private sector partners to bring the vision to life,” he said.
Keswick Barracks is a longer-term urban renewal opportunity. Renewal SA has started assessing the site’s potential for housing, with investigations under way into historic buildings on the site, infrastructure and services.
