Construction work has ramped up on stage one of the $350 million expansion of the Adelaide Convention Centre following the arrival of a tower crane on-site.
The Hon Patrick Conlon MP, Minister for Transport and Infrastructure and Adelaide Convention Centre Chief Executive Alec Gilbert marked the occasion by turning the first sod on the site.

“This project is about returning Adelaide to the world stage, ensuring a venue of world-class standard,” Minister Conlon said.

The Hon Patrick Conlon and Centre Chief Executive Alec Gibert marking the occasion by turning the first sod on the site.

“This expansion will ensure our ongoing competitiveness and boost its economic and tourism contribution to the State by more than $1.92 billion over the next 25 years.”

Upon completion, the expansion is expected to realise an additional $70 million of annual revenue from conferences and events held at the Centre and help revitalise the Riverbank precinct. The sod turning on stage one follows January’s soft opening of the new $3.86 million Panorama Suite and Regattas Bistro + Bar Complex on the Riverbank.

The first stage expands the existing facility westwards over the railway lines to link with Morphett Street bridge and is due for completion in time to host the World Aquaculture Conference in May, 2014. The stage one extension includes an additional 4,300 square metres of multipurpose convention floor space, associated pre-function spaces and multiple meeting spaces with future delegates and guests to enjoy expansive views across the Torrens Lake.

Stage two of the redevelopment, replacing the existing Plenary Building (home of the original Centre in 1987) with a multi-purpose, state-of-the-art facility with plenary capacity of up to 3,500 seats, is scheduled for completion in June, 2017. Completion of Stage Two will both increase the Centre’s total capacity and deliver maximum flexibility, realising the most substantial financial and economic benefits of the redevelopment.

The expansion will create over 1200 jobs during construction and additional 1700 jobs per annum through the flow on benefits to the South Australian economy.

Adelaide Convention Centre Chief Executive Alec Gilbert said the State Government’s investment recognised the vital importance of the Adelaide Convention Centre (ACC) as a major catalyst for tourism and economic growth in South Australia.

“Expansion and redevelopment of the Centre will re-establish Adelaide as one of the premier conference destinations and ensure its continued competitiveness in national and international markets,” Gilbert said.

“Over the past two decades, the Centre has generated over $1 billion in direct economic benefits to the State from delegate spend and associated tourism.

“Notwithstanding its success to date, the ACC operates in a highly competitive global convention and exhibition industry which is required to provide larger and more multi-purpose space with the latest in facility quality and service.

“This investment in a major redevelopment of the Centre will again position South Australia as a leader in the international convention market by providing one of the largest, most flexible and up-to-date meeting places in the world and removing the capacity restraints which have meant we have in recent years lost hosting opportunities interstate and overseas,” he said.