With a mixture of restoration work, internal demolition and building additions, our team delivered an eye-catching rebirth of Gawler’s iconic Civic Centre.
- Sector Community & Civic
- Client Town of Gawler
- Location Gawler SA
- Value $13M
- Contract Construct Only
The Civic Centre comprises the twin heritage-listed Gawler Institute and Town Hall buildings. As their collective name suggests, the two buildings are positioned at the heart of the township, facing the busy main street.
Usable space was very limited, so our team planned their approach in great detail and practiced close management to run the project in such a tight location. Another major challenge was the complexity of the construction involved – it’s very rare for a project of this scale to take nearly two years to deliver, but the heritage restoration of two dilapidated circa 1800s buildings requires an exceptional amount of care. The three-storey Institute building was gutted on the inside, leaving only its historic external and roof structures, and refitted.
Building works were followed by the installation of several modern technologies, and facilities for a variety of community end-users. The Civic Centre now includes a digital business innovation hub, multi-purpose function venue, Indigenous social enterprise café, a new-look Gawler Heritage Collection Gallery and Council Library, and a refreshed Gawler Club which has been located in the Town Hall basement since 1873.
The redevelopment extends the life of these grand old buildings to be used regularly for many years to come. Given the strong local interest during the project, our team were proud to deliver a good result for the community, as well as an engaging centrepiece for anyone passing through the ‘Gateway to the Barossa’.