A concept design is the first ‘pen-to-paper’ design that maps big picture design features to approximately 30% of detail. 

A concept design is then developed further with more details added to become the ‘detailed’ or ‘final’ design for construction.  

You may have questions about the detail (e.g. tree species) that we are unable to answer at this early stage. We will record your queries and respond with an answer once we have it.  

• Hindley Street was last upgraded in 1999 and has become tired and in need of a refresh. This upgrade aligns Hindley Street with the upgraded streetscapes and precincts in the vicinity including Adelaide Festival Plaza, and Hindley Street west (between Morphett Street and South Terrace).
• The Hindley Street Revitalisation is about putting people first as there are 8 times more pedestrians than vehicles who use the street at peak times.
• The north-west corner of the CBD, including Hindley Street, is the hottest part of the city. Improving greening through planting of street trees to provide shade and cooling will improve amenity significantly. It also provides the opportunity to add elements of surprise and ‘sparkle’ and establish opportunities to refresh the public realm with new or refreshed materials and street furniture.

The section of Hindley Street between King William Street and Morphett Street will be upgraded. Construction will include new wider footpaths, new street trees, new kerbs, a new roadway and new parking (flexi) zones and raised pedestrian crossings.

Council has approved $15m in New Upgrade funding from the 2024/25 Business Plan and Budget and through the Council's Asset Management plan they have identified funding to support the renewals of the streetscape upgrade. 

The design principles that underpin the Hindley Street upgrade were developed during community consultation undertaken in 2022. These principles have been used to help develop the Concept Design.  

The design principles are: 

Prioritise Pedestrians

Provide areas to extend the footpath by minimising the width of vehicle lanes and reduce on-street parking. Improve crossing points across the street and at thresholds with side street and laneways.

Organise and Declutter

Rationalise business signage and public street furniture. Work with businesses to remove fixed outdoor dining and replace with removeable furniture. Rationalise and locate urban elements within activity zones.

Optimise Activity Zones 

Incorporate flexi-zones to accommodate a range of activities such as parking, outdoor dining, public street furniture, lighting, artwork, and greening.

Enhance Frontages 

Work with building owners to access grants to upgrade facades, including lighting and signage. Support initiatives that assist in driving high value, destination tenants. 

Robust Greening

Incorporate street tree planting and additional greening associated with existing veranda posts, to provide valuable shade, amenity, and cooling.

Revive, Add Surprise and Sparkle

Establish opportunities to refresh the public realm with new or refreshed materials and public street furniture.

This upgrade will provide a high-quality pedestrian environment and experience, by putting people first through design features to create shade, widen footpaths, and create a safer pedestrian environment.

Key features include: 

• Providing a safer street to encourage more visitors. 
• Introducing trees and greening to the street to provide shade and amenity to stimulate daytime activity. 
• Celebrating the heritage of the earliest established main street of Adelaide. 
• Improved street lighting and CCTV. 
• More space for outdoor dining to encourage active daytime businesses. 
• Improving the Leigh Street and Bank Street intersection to support pedestrian movement from Adelaide Railway Station.

City of Adelaide has undertaken the following engagement processes to date:

The former Lord Mayor (Verschoor) initiated an informal stakeholder group in 2019 and undertook a roundtable about potential short-term wins for Hindley Street.

Phase 1 Benchmarking and Research (February to June 2021)

‒ Lord Mayor roundtables with stakeholders

‒ Focus group with Square Holes to understand people’s perceptions of the Hindley Street precinct. 

Phase 2 Vision and Design Principles (March – April 2022)

‒ Stakeholders reviewed and commented on proposed vision for Hindley Street and ranked and prioritised design principles. 

‒ These design principles have been used to inform the concept design.  

URPS has been engaged by the City of Adelaide to undertake the community engagement for both the concept design and detailed design phases of project delivery.  

Construction is expected to commence in early 2025.

What other projects are happening in the precinct?

Hindley Street/Produce Lane Toilets

The City of Adelaide is about to install new toilets in Produce Lane, off Hindley Street near the former Dog and Duck venue.

Light Square Master Plan

You are invited to share your views to help shape the future of Light Square/Wauwi (the Square) as part of the development of the Square's master plan.

The master plan will guide the Square's future as an important community green space in the west end of the city. A key benefit of preparing a master plan is the development of a vision to guide improvements for the community.

Light Square/Wauwi aster Plan