A global search is underway for a management brand to operate a proposed 130-room waterfront hotel at Adelaide’s North Haven marina basin on behalf of the $90 billion Techport naval defence base.
Developed by the new owners of 35 South Marina, the $40 million hotel will be four storeys in height and offer 105 standard and 25 premium rooms, supported by a separate building for check-in. Guest facilities will include a waterfront restaurant, bar and co-working area, guest library, lounge and fitness centre.
The hotel would be the closest option for Techport at roughly six minutes’ drive as well as being 12 minutes to Port Adelaide and 30 minutes to Adelaide Airport.
In addition to visiting defence industry personnel, the hotel will also appeal to the Outer Harbour region’s growing cruise ship visitation rate, which has supported rising infrastructure development in the area, with new waterfront restaurants, golf courses, beaches, cycle tracks, yacht clubs and other water sport facilities all opening.
The hotel is also intended to meet the growing requirement for meetings and events venues by businesses in the nearby LeFevre Peninsula through its 105 square metre function space. Due to Techport’s highly secure base, a growing number of meetings and events will need to take place off-site for security reasons.
Scott Newman, General Manager of 35 South Marina Pty Ltd, said the hotel and surrounding facilities were a direct result of significant federal government investment in naval defence in the area.
“It is already very difficult for visiting defence industry personnel to secure short-term accommodation near TechPort and demand will only grow,” he said.
Detailed plans for the proposed hotel are set to be lodged with South Australia’s State Commission Assessment Panel soon, with a tentative targeted opening date set for 2023.