Deputation to Council 20th January 2026

David Cree on behalf of SPRA.

Seventh Avenue and Eighth Avenue St Peters - Extension of the existing St Peters Historic Area Overlay

Thank you, Mayor Bria, for allowing me to make this deputation in support of Cr Moorhouse’s Notice of Motion regarding an extension of the existing St Peters Historic Area Overlay.

I wish to put some historical context around this motion.

Firstly, from 30 years ago and secondly from almost 150 years ago.

Through the 1990s I was a Councillor and then Alderman on the St Peters Council and then a member of the first post amalgamation Council.

In 1995/6 the Government was allowing Councils to submit proposals for changes to their Development Plans to create Historic (Conservation) Zones, where appropriate, and to nominate items of Local Heritage and Contributory Heritage significance.

The St Peters Council decided to push for the creation of Historic (Conservation) Zones in parts of Maylands, College Park, Hackney, and St Peters.

At that time Council still had some more conservative Councillors who did not support the idea and whose thinking was in keeping with the 1960s and 70s views wherein older houses on large allotments should be replaced by blocks of two-storey cream brick walk up flats. Their thoughts were also on the increased rate revenue.

There were however a number of newer members of Council who had moved to the area precisely because of these older houses on large allotments which would allow for modern extensions to the rear, large gardens for trees and shade, perhaps a swimming pool and certainly with room to play backyard cricket.

There was a general acceptance by Councillors for Historic (Conservation) Zones in 1st to 6th Avenues, but lesser support for 7th and 8th, partly because of some inconsistency with newer dwellings between the older ones.

In the end it was decided to support 1st Ave to 6th Ave rather than risk losing everything in a desire to include 7th and 8th. We decided to save that for another day.

Now Appears to be an Opportunity to be that Other Day.

I would now like to take you back to 1878 when two entrepreneurs, Arthur Harvey and John Brodie Spence, the brother of Catherine Helen Spence, purchased almost 350 acres of land between Harrow Rd and the Joslin border and between Payneham Rd and the river.

Harvey and Spence then laid out the East Adelaide suburban subdivision. It was planned as a premium suburb with wide streets, quarter acre allotments, rear 14 foot laneways to enable residents to bring their horse and carriage into the stables at the rear and of course to allow service by the night cart. However, by the early 1880s sewerage was available to these allotments, with the deep drainage pipes being laid down the lanes.

In 1881 the East Adelaide Investment Co Limited was formed.

The Company purchased 95 alternate odd numbered allotments between 5th and 8th Avenues and held an option to purchase the adjoining even numbered allotment.

Substantial 6 to 8 room homes were built by the Company on many of these allotments and they were offered for sale or rental, with the adjacent site available for gardens, orchards, stables or other uses.

This speaks to the pattern of development that is now seen between 5th and 8th Avenues with the East Adelaide Investment Company homes identified by their distinctive front cast iron fencing and often with one or two full height windows opening directly onto the veranda.

By the mid-1900s many of these double allotments were subdivided and later period dwellings erected. This motion is important, as many of these later properties are now being sold, the house demolished and replaced by large new dwellings.

The addition of 7th and 8th Avenues to the Heritage Area Overlay as proposed by this motion will help to ensure that what is built will complement the historic homes and protect the remaining historic dwellings worthy of being protected.  

The Overlay requires new developments to have specific frontages, site areas, setbacks, fencing, eave heights, roof pitch & form, window dimensions and other requirements that are consistent with the prevailing historic characteristics of the area.

At present this is not the case, and we risk losing important parts of our Local Heritage.

I urge you to support Cr Moorhouse’s motion.

Update

SPRA can report that Cr Moorhouse's motion was unanimously supported by the councillors