The transformation of Adelaide’s former West End Brewery site has taken a significant step forward, with the South Australian Government confirming a local developer to lead the next stage of the Southwark Grounds redevelopment.
Commercial & General has been selected as master developer for approximately two-thirds of the former brewery site at Port Road, partnering with Renewal SA to deliver a major mixed-use precinct that will form the heart of Adelaide’s newest inner-city neighbourhood.
The announcement outlines plans for more than 1,000 homes alongside a supermarket, childcare centre, aged care facility and a hospitality and retail precinct, expanding on earlier apartment and townhouse projects already underway on the western portion of the site.
A decade-long transformation
The Southwark Grounds project represents one of the most significant infill housing developments currently progressing in South Australia.
The broader precinct is expected to deliver around 1,300 homes in total, with approximately 300 homes forming part of five apartment and townhouse developments announced last year. Construction on those western parcels either commenced in 2025 or is scheduled to begin in 2026.
Under the newly announced master development arrangement, Commercial & General will enter exclusive negotiations with Renewal SA to finalise a development agreement. Subject to those negotiations, works are expected to unfold over the next decade, with major building activity anticipated to begin in 2027.
Built form will be delivered through Commercial & General’s integrated construction arm, Tandem Building, as the developer finalises partnerships with a curated group of architects and consultants to progress detailed designs and product typologies.
Adaptive reuse of the Walkerville Brew Tower
A key feature of the precinct will be the adaptive reuse of the historic Walkerville Brew Tower, a prominent remnant of the former brewery site.
Walkerville Brew Tower will anchor a major civic space known as “Brewery Green”, which is designed to connect the tower to the adjacent river corridor. Plans indicate that the tower will be repurposed for hospitality and retail uses, reinforcing the site’s industrial heritage while creating a focal point for the new neighbourhood.
The broader public realm will account for a minimum of 15 per cent of the total precinct, incorporating activated thoroughfares and a network of new reserves scheduled for delivery across 2026 and 2027.
This blend of public open space and higher-density housing reflects the Government’s strategic infill objectives, aiming to deliver housing close to existing transport links and services rather than expanding further into greenfield areas.
Housing mix and affordable allocation
More than 1,000 homes are proposed within the master developer’s portion of the site, spread across approximately a dozen apartment buildings. While specific typologies are yet to be publicly released, detailed masterplans and product types are expected later this year.
The recently introduced Southwark Grounds Code Amendment has enabled increased height allowances across the site, opening the possibility for higher yield outcomes subject to planning approval.
Importantly, more than 20 per cent of homes within the development area will be allocated to affordable sale or rental housing, aligning with Renewal SA’s expanded affordable housing commitments across the precinct.
This proportion is intended to contribute to broader state housing supply targets while supporting accessibility for moderate-income households seeking inner-city living options.
Supporting services and infrastructure
Beyond residential development, the Southwark Grounds vision includes a range of supporting community infrastructure designed to create a self-contained neighbourhood.
Early delivery stages are expected to include:
- Significant apartment complexes
- Public parking facilities
- Redevelopment of the Walkerville Brew Tower
Within the first five years, key non-residential elements are planned to include:
- A vertical residential aged care facility
- A purpose-built childcare centre
- A supermarket and supporting retail
Commercial & General will also deliver a dedicated 80-space short-stay public car park to accommodate anticipated visitor demand, in addition to parking provision integrated within individual apartment developments.
The combination of residential density with childcare, aged care, retail and hospitality is intended to encourage daily activity and long-term community formation, rather than a purely residential outcome.
Track record of the master developer
Commercial & General is known locally for several prominent mixed-use projects across Adelaide, including Eighty-Eight O’Connell in North Adelaide and WEST at West Lakes.
The appointment reflects the Government’s preference for an integrated development model, where a single master developer coordinates built form, staging and infrastructure across a large portion of the site.
By consolidating delivery under one entity, Renewal SA aims to achieve consistency in design language, public realm integration and construction sequencing over what is expected to be a complex, multi-year build program.
Government strategy and site acquisition
The Port Road site was acquired by the South Australian Government in 2023 from Lion Beer Wine & Spirits Pty Ltd, following the brewery’s closure two years earlier.
Since the acquisition, the Government has moved to fast-track the first residential stages, with initial homes expected to be occupied by the end of 2026.
The redevelopment forms part of a broader strategy of state-led infill projects designed to accelerate housing supply in established urban areas. By repurposing former industrial land close to Adelaide’s CBD, the Government aims to respond to housing demand without relying solely on outer suburban expansion.
The location, approximately five kilometres from the Adelaide CBD, positions Southwark Grounds as a key contributor to inner-ring housing supply over the coming decade.
Planning pathway and next steps
The next immediate milestone is the completion of exclusive negotiations between Commercial & General and Renewal SA to formalise the development agreement.
Detailed masterplans and product typologies are expected to be released later in 2026, providing further clarity on apartment configurations, height outcomes and architectural approaches.
Construction of major apartment complexes and public realm elements is anticipated to begin in 2027, with staged delivery continuing through the early 2030s.
Given the scale of the project, sequencing will be critical to ensuring infrastructure and public amenities are delivered in step with residential growth.
A new inner-city neighbourhood
The vision for Southwark Grounds reflects a contemporary approach to urban redevelopment: higher density housing integrated with open space, adaptive reuse of heritage structures and on-site community services.
The inclusion of affordable housing targets, aged care, childcare and retail components signals an intent to create a mixed-demographic precinct rather than a single-market apartment enclave.
As negotiations progress and detailed designs are finalised, Southwark Grounds is set to become one of Adelaide’s most closely watched urban regeneration projects.
With more than 1,300 homes ultimately planned across the broader site, and over 1,000 of those now tied to the newly appointed master developer, the former brewery grounds are entering a new phase — one that will reshape a significant stretch of inner-city Adelaide over the next decade.
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