ABC to relocate Adelaide office from iconic 1974 Collinswood building

The ABC has announced it will move its Adelaide operations from its iconic Collinswood building from 2029.

A feasibility study between the public broadcaster and the South Australian government will be undertaken to explore the relocation, which would see the ABC move to a more central location in Adelaide.

ABC managing director David Anderson said the relocation had the potential to benefit the organisation and its audiences.

“We’re very excited to be working with the South Australian government on this opportunity to ensure our facilities are built for the technological requirements of a modern national broadcaster,” he said.

“The feasibility study marks the start of the process that will help us determine the best outcome for everyone who works at ABC Adelaide and the best site to continue creating the content and services the public expects of us.”

The ABC said its current Collinswood building was “reaching the end of its suitability” for technology, production and staff requirements.

It said moving staff and operations to a new facility was in line with the organisation’s strategic goals and commitment to managing its property portfolio.

The feasibility study will include input from staff, stakeholders and current lease holders within the Collinswood building.

The ABC currently occupies the bottom three floors of its eight-storey premises, with Country Arts SA having recently moved in as a tenant.

The State Theatre Company South Australia and State Opera South Australia will also move into the building for the next four years.

Arts Minister Andrea Michaels said the arts organisations would move alongside the ABC.

“The state government welcomes the opportunity to work with the ABC on a feasibility study for a new location for the ABC as well as Country Arts, State Theatre and State Opera from 2029,” she said.

“We value our state’s arts and creative industries, and I look forward to exploring alternative sites to meet their needs for the future.”

The broadcaster’s current site, on North East Rd, sits on a five-acre parcel and is home to more than 200 ABC staff.

The building, known for its distinctive architecture, was officially opened by prime minister Gough Whitlam in 1974.

The broadcaster had previously operated out of a two-storey mansion known as Tregenna, which had been located on the same site.

Reaching ‘end of life’

The ABC’s managing director, who travelled to Adelaide on Thursday to deliver the news, said the Collinswood building had “served us well” for over 50 years but it was reaching the end of its life.

Speaking with ABC Radio Adelaide’s Drive program from the building itself, Mr Anderson said the building required “major repairs” which would necessitate the temporary relocation of its operations.

“It ends up being that you need to … repair the core of the building. When you start talking about elevators and major elements of a building when it does reach end of life, they are major repairs and they can’t be done while we’re in it,” he said.

“So it ends up not being feasible to come back to the building. Rather, let’s spend the money on a new facility with new technology.”

Asked whether the relocation of ABC Adelaide to a smaller site would result in a reduction of its current workforce or services, Ms Anderson said that was not on the cards.

“It is not envisioned to reduce the services that we provide to the great people of Adelaide and South Australia,” he said.

“Our footprint through all the regional bureaus and what we provide the people of Adelaide would be the same in the future as what we have at the moment.”

Mr Anderson said the new facility will be purpose-built and is likely to cost tens of millions of dollars.

While he was not able to give an exact figure, he said it would be a “sizeable investment”.

“If I take what we just did in Sydney in Parramatta – that was 300 people, it was a new studio, high tech, high tech radio studios, with all the edit suites that went with it … that facility was a $39-million build,” he said.

“I think this is different, but you are talking about a large quantum.”

The feasibility study being conducted between the ABC and the South Australian government would help determine the best location for ABC Adelaide, but Mr Anderson said it would likely be in an arts precinct.

The study would also decide what would become of the landmark high-rise, considered “a good example of Brutalist architecture”, as well as the location, he added.

“It’s envisioned the site would be sold, either in whole or in part, but again, that is still part of the feasibility study,” he said.

While a lot was still up in the air, Mr Anderson said one thing was certain.

“As the outgoing managing director, I am telling you, without a doubt, we need to move out of this facility in Collinswood.”