Gawler Civic Centre
An iconic, community hub leading the renaissance of Gawler by connecting people and businesses through increased commercial activity, community events and interaction.
Officially opened on Sunday 7 April 2019, the primary purpose of the Gawler Civic Centre is to revitalise and redevelop existing Main Street, community buildings that will drive economic growth, create new jobs and strengthen the social and cultural base of Gawler and the broader region. Social connection, community celebration and lifelong learning are key outcomes for this unique, regional facility.
The Gawler Civic Centre contains six business functions that intend to collectively deliver significant community and economic development in the region, namely:
- Gawler Public Library
- Cultural Heritage Centre
- Function Venues and Meeting Rooms
- Youth Space
- Business Innovation Hub
- Social Enterprise Café
Celebrating and connecting past, present and future communities.
A true community facility, developed and driven by the local community, creating the pre-eminent social, cultural, heritage and business innovation centre for the region.
The Gawler Civic Centre has a wide range of products and services to offer, delivered both separately and collectively via the six functional areas. Collaboratively these offerings will enable the Gawler Civic Centre to once again be the service centre for the broader Gawler region.
Collaborative products and services that will provide diverse value to the wider Gawler community include:education and training programs, social and community wellbeing services and partnership delivery models.
The Gawler Civic Centre aims to provide a genuine, new cultural tourism experience, be an economic driver and acommunity connection point for the region...
Discover, Connect, Innovate and Grow.
Click the link if you want to know WHAT'S ON?
Alternatively you can visit the Gawler Civic Centre Facebook page for regular updates and entertainment programs.
Key outcomes of the Gawler Civic Centre are to create an iconic, functional hub that will bring people, business and new employment opportunities to the Gawler CBD and establish a sense of belonging, well-being and support for the region through increased business activity, community events and interaction.
Outcomes of the Gawler Civic Centre are grounded in a strong desire by Council to build a stronger, more diversified and economically sustainable local and regional community and economy.
Shared outcomes include: education and lifelong learning, social interaction and safe community spaces.
Each functional area within the Gawler Civic Centre will provide a range of different products and services and therefore a variety of community outcomes. Targeting the local community is the initial priority, however servicing the regional catchment and drawing visitors from across South Australia are key medium to long term strategies.
This project was jointly funded by the Australian Government through the National Stronger Regions Fund ($5.6M), and the Town of Gawler.
Community Information
December 2019:
The Gawler Civic Centre wins multiple excellence awards for architecture and planning.
The Gawler Civic Centre has recently taken out multiple awards for excellence in both architecture and planning. Earlier this year at the 2019 State Architecture Awards, the Gawler Civic Centre won the top gong for Public Architecture and most recently at the 2019 Planning Institute of Australia award night, not one but two awards were bestowed on the innovative centre. The Civic Centre won the Great Place Award and then we were thrilled and honoured when the Minister for Planning awarded his top pick of the night to the Town of Gawler and the Civic Centre.
The Minister’s Award is given to the overall winner of the South Australian Awards for Planning Excellence and is judged personally by the Minister for Planning Hon. Stephan Knoll, MP.
June 2019:
The Gawler Civic Centre's cost have been finalised.
“The once-in-a-generation project to restore and refurbish the State Heritage Listed Institute and Town Hall buildings, after decades of neglect, has understandably required important capital investment to bring these buildings back to life,” said Mayor Redman. “When Council signed the contract with Badge Constructions in March 2017 the allocated budget was $14.311m. What became apparent during the redevelopment is that the state of various elements of both buildings was worse than initially thought. This required Council to increase the budget for completing the project.”
Council has undertaken an independent audit of the Gawler Civic Centre Redevelopment as part of the formal acquittal process attached to the Australian Government’s National Stronger Regions Fund from which Council received $5.6m towards the project. This audit has validated the final cost of the Redevelopment being $15.470m.
December 2018:
The Gawler Civic Centre Achieves Practical Completion on Tuesday 18th December 2018!
“Just over 20 months of demolition, extensive remediation and construction, and final commissioning have resulted in what we believe is a spectacular result for Gawler and the wider community,” said Mayor Redman. “It’s very exciting to see Council’s vision for the Centre come to life and the transformation that has occurred since construction started.”
September 2018:
Business Innovation Hub operator announcement
“Council is excited to announce that Andrew Morris has been engaged to manage the Business Innovation Hub (Hub) within the Gawler Civic Centre,” said Mayor Redman. “The Hub will be a membership based facility encouraging collaboration and the use digital technologies and solutions to work smarter and grow.”
Volunteers wanted for the Gawler Civic Centre…
As the Gawler Civic Centre redevelopment nears completion, the Town of Gawler is seeking expressions of interest from members of the public who would like to provide professional, personalised and informative guided tours of the completed facility. Tours are planned to be held every day once the Centre officially opens in early 2019.
Council will provide all selected Civic Centre volunteers with the training and support that they require to successfully participate in this exciting new volunteer program.
July 2018:
“Council is excited to announce that Red Centre Enterprises has been engaged to manage the Social Enterprise Café within the Gawler Civic Centre,” said Mayor Redman. “Red Centre Enterprises will operate an Australian Bush Foods Social Enterprise Café that uses the best of local South Australian produce, provides high quality meals and have a positive cultural impact within the local community.”
April 2018:
May is History month...The Town of Gawler are directly involved with two South Australian History Festival events, including a Gawler Historic Hotel Walking Tour and an informative talk - Gawler: Past, Present and Future. Bookings are essential for both events and can be made via the Gawler Visitor Information Centre, in person, or by phoning (08) 8522 9260.
February 2018:
GigCity Adelaide network is coming to the Business Innovation Hub within the new Gawler Civic Centre! Read the exciting announcement, including explanation of this high-speed (ten-gigabit) connection here.
As the redevelopment has advanced, it has become clear that significant but unforeseen remediation works are required, particularly with regard to the heritage stonework, drainage and waterproofing of these historic civic buildings. Read more from Mayor Redman here.
2017:
Gawler Club - history and their temporary move from the Town Hall/Institute.
Much remediation work was completed to both the Town Hall and Institute buildings during the renovations. To view the time lapse video's click below:
Demolition of the 1980's red brick extension to the Town Hall (May 2017)
Brochures
Stay up to date with all that is happening at the Gawler Civic Centre here:
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Visit council Agendas and Minutes page
For more information on hiring the Gawler Civic Centre please contact the Civic Centre Operations Coordinator, Sam Irrgang: Phone: 8522 9267 Email: civic.centre@gawler.sa.gov.au