22 March 2024
The Greens have raised concerns over a potential loss to Adelaide’s cultural heritage as the State Planning Commission considers a proposal for a student accommodation building on the site of the iconic Crown & Anchor Hotel.
On Tuesday, Singapore-based developer Wee Hur Holdings Ltd applied for planning consent for construction of multi-level student accommodation at 188 and 196 Grenfell St, which are currently home to the venues Roxie’s, Chateau Apollo, Midnight Spaghetti as well as the Cranker. The application proposes “partial demolition and adaptive reuse” of the Cranker site.
“For over 30 years, countless local and touring independent bands have entertained South Australian audiences on the Cranker’s stage. It would be a huge loss for to Adelaide cultural heritage if this development leads to the Cranker closing its doors to live music,” said Greens
SA Planning and Heritage Spokesperson Robert Simms MLC.
“While it’s clear that there is a significant need for new housing to address the ongoing housing crisis, there are already vacant sites in the CBD that could be investigated for use instead of constructing a tower on the location of one of the handful of CBD pubs that still regularly hosts live music.”