Housing, retail and recreation spearhead a new-look Tonsley

A full suite of amenities including a supermarket, specialty retail shops, and a rock-climbing gym are set to radically change the look and feel of Tonsley Innovation District as part of a major investment in lifestyle within the precinct.

Located on the western side of the Main Assembly Building (MAB), adjacent the former car plant’s old Boiler House, the new 5000sqm retail and commercial hub will be delivered by leading Australian property developer Peet and have a wellbeing focus.

The $47 million retail component of the project is forecast to open mid-2024, while the development will also include a variety of A grade commercial office accommodation, anchored by the head office of community housing provider Junction and Women’s Housing Ltd.

“The new Tonsley retail and commercial precinct is a gamechanger for the community, providing residents with a range of options, including a supermarket, a café and delicatessen, a barber and more,” Peet Managing Director and CEO Brendan Gore said.

“Access to amenity like this is key to building self-contained communities and improving the quality of life which has been a goal of [Peet’s residential development] Tonsley Village.

“For commercial users, it offers a world class building focussed on health and wellbeing at the heart of the Tonsley Innovation District. The new precinct is another step forward and part of our long-term commitment to supporting the continued growth and success of the Tonsley Innovation District.”

Development of the first stage of the project will be delivered by Otello – a boutique developer with a focus on mixed-use precincts – with construction set to commence in early 2023. It will include construction of Wellbeing and Allied Health facilities, a multi-level gym, and indoor bouldering facility by V2 Fit.

“Otello are very excited to be working alongside Peet to deliver such an important project,” Otello Managing Director Daniel Harris said.

“Our shared project vision is for the Tonsley mixed-use precinct to become a world class, wellbeing focussed commercial and retail hub.

“Through the design process, a set of principles were created which have driven the architectural response – with biophilic design, sustainability, connectivity, and inclusivity as the key drivers”.

Development approval has been secured for the first stage of the precinct while plans for the southern mixed-use site will be lodged in the coming months.

Junction’s 150 office staff will move into the southern site once complete, as the organisation breaks new ground for an ambitious future.

Minister for Housing and Urban Development Nick Champion said the merger of innovation and entertainment would spearhead a new-look Tonsley.

“Tonsley Innovation District was conceived a decade ago as a major jobs creator – a sustainable economic base for future industries to replace the jobs lost when the Mitsubishi plant closed,” Minister Champion said.

“Ten years on, we have a flourishing workforce onsite, some 8500 students being educated within the precinct and a growing number of residents who now call Tonsley home, so there is a definite need for a contemporary retail space.

“By allocating space for a major investment in lifestyle amenities we are building on the vibrancy already created within the District and unlocking new employment opportunities for hundreds of South Australians.”

Tonsley Village sits within the Tonsley Innovation District, an area previously home to Mitsubishi’s Tonsley Park car manufacturing plant. The area was given new life in 2012 as part of a revitalisation plan by the South Australian Government to attract investment and create a thriving jobs and education precinct that included residential and community living.

Residents enjoy connectivity to the Adelaide CBD – a 20-minute trip by car or train – in addition to access to Flinders University, Flinders Private Hospital and the Tonsley Innovation District.

At completion, Tonsley Village is expected to be home to more than 1,800 residents while the Tonsley Innovation District will support up to 8,500 students per year.

Tonsley Village is a community by leading Australian property developer Peet which has more than 125 years’ experience building master-planned communities across the country. The developer is also responsible for the award-winning Lightsview, Bluestone, Mt Barker and its newest community, Fort Largs.