The SA Parliament is the place that in 1894 enacted the world's first legislation for women's full democratic rights, and is therefore the site of the first legislation of full democratic rights for all, across gender and racial lines.
It also was the site of the first global legislation of one vote one value and the secret ballot.
An adjacent 38-storey private office tower being forced on the city against any logic by the State Government would loom over the National Heritage-listed Parliament by more than 30 floors and become a world symbol of disrespect for women's achievement, and display ignorance of this profoundly significant global achievement.
Far from the globally aware and visionary government of 1894, it would also be a world symbol of a globally out-of-touch, parochially-minded government acting in undemocratic fashion with community assets of deep cultural significance. It creates an unavoidable sense of backwardness.
Worse still, given that the goal was for a cutting-edge space like Federation Square in Melbourne, what could possibly be more banal and incongruous than an office building in a cultural precinct that is zoned 'entertainment'?
This is planning of a type that was abandoned in most cities by 1980.
This giant private building in an intensely civic and irreplaceable space would have no civic purpose beyond a single storey of cafes, and would put the Parliament building in permanent deep shade, both physically and metaphorically.
There are rumours from reliable sources that the Premier's office, and his cabinet's, would be in the building.
The tower must be relocated and the plaza developed as a vibrant cultural and entertainment based civic space.
Democracy Plaza: A Transformative Civic and Economic Anchor
Festival Plaza presents Adelaide with the chance to create a Democracy Plaza- a world-class civic square framed by Parliament House, the Festival Theatre, and Government House. Unlike another office tower, which offers no civic dividend, such a plaza could transform Adelaide’s economy, culture, and global reputation.
Adelaide already markets itself as Australia’s “Festival City.” The Adelaide Fringe generates more than $120 million in gross economic impact annually, drawing over 1 million attendances each year. WOMADelaide contributes an estimated $30–40 million annually and brings a highly international audience. The Adelaide Festival contributes another $62 million in economic activity, and collectively, these festivals sustain thousands of jobs.
Yet despite this global profile, Adelaide lacks a central civic square to serve as the city’s stage- an everyday gathering place that can seamlessly host large-scale civic, cultural, and democratic events. A Democracy Plaza could fill that gap, amplifying existing strengths:
Tourism uplift: Hosting global events and civic celebrations, such as COP31, in a dedicated square could boost visitor spending by $50–100 million per year, building on Adelaide’s proven cultural economy.
Global profile: By embedding commemorative design celebrating South Australia’s world-first democratic reforms of 1894, the Plaza would project Adelaide internationally as the birthplace of universal suffrage.
The Democracy Plaza option would support lasting economic
stability, amplify Adelaide’s festival economy, enhance the
city’s global standing, and offer the chance for Adelaide to
make a major step-up on the world stage for South
Australia’s bicentenary in 2036.
Human-Centric Design
Global: Streets are being reclaimed for walking, cycling, and civic life (Paris, Bogotá, New York).
Adelaide: Some gains (eg. Frome Bikeway, Rundle Mall renewal, Victoria Square rework), but still heavily car-centric in planning and politics. Major new projects like the Festival Plaza redevelopment lean toward office towers over open, people-first public spaces.
Globally, the arc is towards people-first, green, and resilient cities.
Adelaide, despite its extraordinary natural assets and cultural heritage, is swimming against the current in key areas: prioritising large commercial builds over civic space, neglecting climate resilience in the city core, and undervaluing consultation.
The paradox: Adelaide has the bones of a “model city” (grid, Park Lands, manageable scale) but risks drifting out of step
with the most forward-looking planning trends.
Adelaide has a beautiful grid, generous Park Lands, and
human scale.
The task is to align planning with global best practice by
humanising, greening, and diversifying its spaces. Done
right, Adelaide could become a global model of a small
sustainable city — comparable to Copenhagen or Wellington,
but with its own Kaurna-led identity..
Our Vision
Why is Adelaide swimming against the tide?
Source: SA Government
Some Global Plazas
Trieste
Vienna
Milan
Copenhagen
Bologna
Llubjana
Lyon
Prague
Contact Us
TheTeam@savefestivalplaza.net
Join Us
Save Festival Plaza Alliance
Is a coalition of citizens including planning and architectural professionals and community groups dedicated to revitalizing Adelaide Festival Plaza while honoring its historical significance.