Heritage Places

Heritage Place Details

LOCATION
Map Show Map
Address King William Road ADELAIDE
Locality
Accuracy H - high level confidence
Development Plan ADELAIDE Council
Polygon Type B - Building footprint
DESCRIPTION
Details (Known As) Adelaide Festival Centre (Festival Theatre, Playhouse, Space and Amphitheatre, the Southern Plaza, and Carparking, Restaurant and Convention Facilities)
Registered Name Adelaide Festival Centre - Festival Theatre, Playhouse, Space and Amphitheatre, the Southern Plaza and Carparking, Restaurant and Convention Facilities
Significance The construction of the Adelaide Festival Centre was a milestone in South Australian history. The Adelaide Festival of Arts had been the first of its kind in Australia, a bold vision which became an enduring event, marking South Australia as the 'Festival State'. The erection of the Adelaide Festival Centre was an equally bold move. Innovative in style, the achievement of both Liberal and Labor governments, the Adelaide City Council and notable individuals, the complex is a home for the Festival, and a cultural centre for the people of South Australia. The Centre has received much critical acclaim as an extremely functional performing arts complex. The Centre is an unashamedly modern complex notable for its bold structuralist approach to form. The multi-purpose Festival Theatre, the more intimate drama theatre (Playhouse), the experimental theatre (Space) and the Amphitheatre are integrated successfully by roof form and the formality of the dominant octagonal module. The individual components of the complex are noted for their versatility, the appeal of internal spaces, the quality of finishes, the good acoustics and the planning of seating and facilities which are held in high regard by artists and patrons alike. The complex has been criticised as 'strident' in colour and finish. Concern has also been expressed that the Festival Theatre and Playhouse Theatre express themselves as concrete buildings whereas they are in fact steel framed. There are also some serious structural faults. Yet the complex as a whole is genuinely historic and the architecture may be regarded as progressive while reflecting the period in which the concept was first mooted. The Hajek sculpture plaza and recent additions such as the larger restaurant and conference centre are not as happily related, the plaza in particular butting uncomfortably against the exposed northern wall of Parliament House. (SHB)
Subject Index Recreation and entertainment - Theatre
Class State
STATUS
Status Code REG - Confirmed as a State Heritage Place in the SA Heritage Register
Status Date 11-DEC-1997
REFERENCE
LGA Adelaide
State Heritage ID 13200
Heritage Number 1370
SECTION 16 INFORMATION
Section 16 f - it has strong cultural or spiritual associations for the community or a group within it
g - it has a special association with the life or work of a person or organisation or an event of historical importance
PLAN PARCEL & TITLE
As listed in the SA Heritage Register
Plan Parcel & Title Information CT 6277/532 D128908 A602,CT 6283/654 D128908 A601,CT 6283/655 D128908 A603

Disclaimer

While due care has been taken to ensure that the SA Heritage Places Database accurately reflects the South Australian Heritage Register and listings of Local Heritage Places in Development Plans, the State of South Australia does not accept liability for the use of the SA Heritage Database for any purpose. Users should consult the Department for Environment and Water - Heritage South Australia to confirm the listing of State Heritage Places and the relevant Development Plan for Local Heritage Places/Contributory Items.

In the majority of cases, the maps of State Heritage Places on this web site show the footprints of the most significant structures on a registered Place. However, sometimes they simply indicate the complete area of land comprising the Place. Work is proceeding to further refine the mapping of such places. It is also important to note that development control is not limited to the registered structures but extends to their setting and structures nearby (what is termed ‘development affecting’ a State Heritage Place). Hence it is vital that exact details of the listed place and implications for any proposed development be discussed with Heritage South Australia staff, as they cannot be deduced solely from the information on this web site. The inclusion of a place in the SA Heritage Register gives no right of public access. Permission to visit properties must be sought from the owners. The accuracy of the mapping of State Heritage Places is not guaranteed. Please contact Heritage SA ( https://www.environment.sa.gov.au/topics/heritage/sa-heritage-register) if you believe there is an error.


GIS files

To access downloadable GIS files, go to Data.SA.