FAQs

The Unley Civic Precinct Working Group (the Working Group) was established in 2018 to assist the Council in developing a long-term vision for the Unley Civic Precinct (the area bounded by Unley Road, Oxford Terrace, Rugby Street and Edmund Avenue). 

 The Objectives of the Working Group are to: 

• provide community input into planning for future development of the City of Unley Civic Precinct; 
• develop options for the consideration of Council that provide for the appropriate development of the Civic Precinct, including consideration of: 
  • short (0-5 years), medium (5-10 years) and long term (10+ years) opportunities; 
  • accessibility to the community;
  • integration with property owned by St. Augustine Parish; 
  • the future of the Civic Building and opportunities for consolidation or enhancement of Council facilities; 
  • current and potential use of the Cottages, including whether they should be retained; and
  • integration of Oxford Terrace. 
• act as a linkage between Council and the general community in providing feedback during the development of concepts or ideas for the Civic Precinct 

Following an expression of interest process, six (6) community members were appointed to the Working Group including representatives from FOCUS, SOS Village Green and St Augustine, and supported by Council staff.

The Working Group has met a number of times to consider and discuss opportunities for activating and enhancing the Civic Precinct area, which were documented in the Draft Directions Paper prepared in late 2018. The Directions Paper informed the budget submission relating to the enhancements to the Village Green as well as the development of Concept Designs for the Edmund Avenue Cottages.

The Directions Paper developed by the Civic Precinct Working Group reflects the outcomes of the Working Group session, integrating the shared aspirations or expectations for the Civic Precinct, including:

1. The Unley Civic Precinct should attract more of the local community to access and enjoy the precinct, providing greater flexibility of use during the day and early evenings; 
2. The Unley Civic Precinct is defined by the quality of its safer local streetscapes, built and natural heritage, flexible public spaces and diversity of community services; 
3. The Unley Civic Precinct provides greater co-ordination between the different stakeholders to provide for the needs of the local community; and 
4. The Unley Civic Precinct is a central community destination, supported by a program of services, events and activities, in a range of greener civic settings.

The Directions Paper considered both the built form and services provided within the Precinct, as well the quality and appeal of the spaces around the buildings, including the Village Green and the surrounding streetscapes.

In 2019/20, Council funded the development of a Concept Designs for the six Cottages. The aim was to illustrate the importance of the Cottages within the Precinct, by supporting new opportunities to improve their flexibility and suitability to alternate uses, as well as to enhance the interface and activation of the Village Green.

The Concept Design Brief aimed to:

• Provide a holistic design approach which consistently considers each of the six Cottages together;
• Retain and enhance the existing streetscape character of Edmund Avenue, whilst increasing the activation and amenity of the Village Green;
• Value the existing character of the main cottage buildings, particularly Museum Local Heritage Place (former Fire Station);
• Introduce new activity and programs to enliven the Precinct (Business Services and Arts and Culture);
• Replace existing rear lean-to's with contemporary additions, comparative to the original floor area (in total) and without extending the overall building line further into the Village Green;
• Provide contemporary additions that provide a ‘front door’ onto the Village Green, increasing direct access as well as passive surveillance.

The Concept Design reviewed individual designs and functional layouts with stakeholders, in alignment with the Development Plan (Unley) and planning and building design requirements; including architectural design, significant/regulated trees, traffic, parking, waste management and building code matters, as well as the potential staged redevelopment of individual Cottages.

Consideration was also given to improving the public realm surrounding the Cottages along the the Village Green and fronting Edmund Avenue, including new expanded paved pathways, additional tree planting, furniture and lighting.

The Concept Design presents the Cottages holistically and their relationship to the Village Green and Edmund Avenue. The designs respond to the expectations of Council and the Working Group, as well as reflect input from relevant stakeholders and tenants to understand their aspirations. 

The key changes for each Cottage include:

• 72 Edmund Avenue – Business Innovation Hub – existing internal areas rationalised to provide for flexible meeting / teaching areas for business and community use, as well as additional office work spaces. The existing public toilets are to be rebuilt with improved facilities including three unisex cubicles, equal access and baby change facilities.
• 74 and 76 Edmund Avenue – Co-working Incubator Hub – existing internal areas are to be reconfigured to provide new open workspace and communal facilities, within the existing Cottages to increase workspaces (small office, open plan and interactive ‘hot-desk’ spaces). The two adjacent Cottages are linked across the rear by the new contemporary addition to address the Village Green and increase shared space between the two. The Edmund Avenue street frontage will maintain the integrity of individual Cottages, including access to light from existing windows. A second link between the rear of No. 72 and No. 74 is also proposed.

If Cottages 72, 74 and 76 were linked, it would create a business, innovation and co-working hub in one location, increasing the appeal and efficiency of each cottage.

The linkages would be designed with flexibility to allow for future separation of the cottages if required.

• 78 and 80-82 Edmund Avenue – Unley Museum – the concept aims to provide expanded gallery spaces adjacent to the Village Green, with a new recognised public entrance from the Village Green. The new gallery space will allow for reallocation of existing internal areas for additional administration facilities and expanded storage to better support the Museum and gallery functions. The toilets will be reorganised to provide secure external public access to support community events on the Village Green, when required. Public access would be controlled by access from the walkway between No. 76 and No. 78. 

In addition, an undercover open-sided link with the Potters’ Club that would offer potential outdoor activities for school groups and shared with the Potters’ Club outdoor activities space has been included.

• 84 Edmund Avenue – Adelaide Potters’ Club – consolidation, increase and reconfiguration of kilns, workshop, studio and teaching spaces, with enhanced communal gallery spaces. The extension will better integrate the Club into the Village Green.

An undercover open-sided link with the Museum that would offer potential outdoor demonstration, teaching and event space, and shared with the Museum has been included.

The tables below provide a summary of the changes in floor area per Cottage as a result of the concept designs, as well as the increased opportunity for the identified tenants.

CHANGES IN FLOOR AREA PER COTTAGE

CHANGES IN FLOOR AREA PER TENANT

The further refinement of the exact floor plans, fixtures and fittings will be addressed with the stakeholders as part of the process of a future detailed design and specification of the scope of works. 

The site at 86 Edmund Avenue, Church Rectory, has not been a part of considerations, but through the Working Group there has been suggestion there may be some interest in coordinating with the overall aims and aesthetic of the Civic Precinct. The building is the property of St Augustine, and any potential adaptation would be at the discretion of the Church.

The proposed nature of community, cultural and office use of the Cottages, and height of single storey development is envisaged within the District Centre Zone and Community Area of the City of Unley Development Plan.

The overall proposed building area of the Cottages is similar to the existing total building area. There is a limited increase from approximately 1,000m2 to 1,180m2. This results in an additional area of 180m2, predominantly comprising the extent of rear additions for the new Museum facility. The extent of increase has been restrained to maintain the open space character of the Village Green.

Within the zone, non-residential development has a deemed minimum car parking rate of three spaces per 100m2 gross leasable floor area (total floor area of a building excluding public or common tenancy areas such as malls, verandahs or public toilets). On that basis, the existing requirement of 30 spaces would be increased to 35 spaces, an additional five spaces. The overall impact of this limited increase (and given the Precinct’s high alternative walking, cycling and public transport accessibility) may not warrant extra car parking provision being pursued. Additional parking could be achieved by the addition of an area of 45-degree angled parking on the northern side of Edmund Avenue along the frontage of the Cottages for minimal change to infrastructure.

These issues will be addressed as part of the process of detailed design and obtaining necessary planning approval, but it should be noted that no additional parking will be provided by encroaching into the Village Green area.

The Village Green currently contains a mix of native and exotic tree species, planted at different times, without a clear structure or sequence. A number of trees were memorial plantings, and include small plaques confirming their history.

The Working Group Directions Paper proposes a more active, structured and higher quality Village Green, including increased tree planting and the establishment of a pedestrian walk, connecting the cottages across the Village Green. The walk could include seating and planting beds as well as path lighting and other services to support the activation of the Village Green. The further detailed design of the Village Green would follow the endorsement of the Concept Design for the Cottages and would be staged in conjunction with the building works. The landscape design will include a detailed assessment of all tree planting.

However, for the purpose of the development of the Concept Design, and with the support of the Working Group, Council staff have reviewed two medium eucalypts north of No. 76 Edmund Avenue, and recommend their removal. These trees are of reasonable condition but of poor form and structure and likely to cause increased long term maintenance concerns following the Cottage redevelopment. 

If removed, increased tree planting of species more appropriate and consistent across the Village Green would replace these lost trees. In addition, three smaller trees north of No. 72 and No. 74 are also proposed to be removed and similarly replaced with more.

Council committed to preparation of the Concept Plan and has currently included within the Draft Annual Business Plan for 2020/21 an allocation of $100,000 for the planning, detailed design and documentation of stage one (Cottage No. 74 and No. 76), with the expectation that construction works may commence at a later date, subject to Council approval and funding.

The Concept Design has anticipated a construction cost of $500,000 per Cottage, noting that some involve two Cottages, and the Museum is a larger scale of extensions. This covers all works necessary for demolition, new contemporary extensions and existing building integration. In short, the anticipated cost would cover preparation of the ‘shell’ of each Cottage.