Background Information

Adelaide Studios was a major project undertaken by the Rann Government for the South Australian film industry to provide state of the art production facilities and a new permanent home for the South Australian Film Corporation (SAFC); the lead agency in South Australia for the promotion, stimulation and development of the state’s film industry.  Building Adelaide Studios was undertaken as Phase 1 of the major Glenside Campus redevelopment project in which the State Government is investing  a total of $300 million to create modern mental health and substance abuse services to better support South Australian individuals and families.  More information about the Glenside Campus Redevelopment Project can be be found at www.sahealth.sa.gov.au>  Health Reform > Mental Health Reform > Glenside Campus

Adelaide Studios provides the essential infrastructure the SA film industry identified as vital for the industry’s growth. A report outlining the business case for the need for new premises for the SAFC concluded that without new screen infrastructure, there was no capacity for South Australia to maintain even the current level of secured local and interstate feature film production.[1]
 

Adelaide Studios was developed within the Cultural Precinct of the Glenside Campus and involves adaptive re-use of the heritage building formerly operating as the administrative centre for Glenside Hospital, responsible for South Australia’s mental health services. A number of desired outcomes associated with this alignment around social inclusion objectives and proximity to health, retail, commercial, residential precincts, which combine on the campus, have been identified in the Glenside Campus Master Plan with key outcomes in relation to these wholly supported by the SAFC.
 

Adelaide Studios is located within close proximity of Adelaide’s central business district and a large number of film and screen production businesses which have clustered in Adelaide’s eastern suburbs, in particular Kent Town and Norwood. The City of Burnside is the local government entity responsible for the campus, with the City of Norwood Payneham & St Peters on the east, and the City of Unley on the southwest.

A project control group including the Department of Transport, Energy and Infrastructure (the project risk manager), Arts SA, the SAFC, Grieve Gillett (the architect) and Hansen & Yuncken (the builder), was established to manage the day-to-day aspects of the project.

The project build had two major parts, which were undertaken concurrently; refurbishment of the administrative building and building of the new studio facilities at the rear, with links between the two. The design for the whole project and in particular for the studios, was developed in close consultation with the film industry.

The desired project outcomes identified for Adelaide Studios included creating an integrated community hub for activities of the creative industries of the state, with particular emphasis on filmmakers and businesses involved with creative content for film, television, audiovisual and new media platforms.

The ‘hub’ environment acts as an incubator for new and emerging screen enterprises, securing the growth essential to the industry’s future.

The new infrastructure also supports realisation of the econimic benefits the film and screen industries’ bring to the state which include:

¤ enhancing the state’s reputation in terms of support for the creative sector;

¤ sustaining the base for film production skills;

¤ supporting the development of South Australian small business and business skills;

¤ cultural and lifestyle outcomes contributing to the creativity and prosperity objectives
as outlined in South Australia’s Strategic Plan

Building commenced in March 2010 with Adelaide Studios officially opened for business on 16 August 2011 and formally launced by Premier Mike Rann on 20 October of that same year.

For the SAFC, which celebrates its 40 year anniversary in 2012, the Adelaide Studios represents a significant milestone in its enduring history and provides the infrastructure and flexibility it needs to support the growth of the film and screen industries in South Australia into the future.