GalleriesHeritage

Erindale building's dark past to be transformed as part of the Central School of Art campus in Adelaide east's Glenside

Erindale building's dark past to be transformed as part of the Central School of Art campus in Adelaide east's Glenside
The former Erindale building (at left) and its Glenside Hospital E wards were to be transformed from their dark part to become part of the campus Central School of Art  that would extend its courses to a masters degree. The school already used heritage buildings (at right) in the Glenside cultural precinct in the eastern suburbs next to the Adelaide Film Studios.
Images courtesy Central School of Art and Glenside Histoical Society

The South Australian state-heritage-listed Erindale building that housed the E wards for men in Glenside Hospital (formerly Parkside Lunatic Asylum) was funded in 2025 to become a multi arts area.  The building would be used by the Central School of Art that gained $7 million in Australian government funding to transform the building from its dark past.

Adelaide Central School of Art chief executive officer Penny Griggs said the support was a game changer for the art school that would be able to develop a master of arts programme and further its links with practising artists and the community. the Erindale building would host artist studios, a first nations artists’ residential, mental health arts programme, education spaces and a native garden. The school’s chair Deborah Heithersay said the project would spark new local and international interest. 

Adelaide Central School of Art was an independent not-for-profit accredited higher education provider of tertiary courses in an associate degree of visual art, bachelor of visual art and bachelor of visual art (honours), and short courses, workshops and masterclasses.

The school was founded in 1982 by Rod Taylor and Heather Nicholson at a rented space in Bloor Court, Adelaide city.  In 1988, it moved to a Gilles Street, Adelaide city, warehouse as an accredited independent art school. It 1994, it leased heritage buildings in Osmond Terrace, Norwood, from the School's founder until they were sold in 2011. Taylor retired in 2008 and Ingrid Kellenbach took over as chief executive. 

Adelaide Central School of Art relocated to the Glenside cultural precinct in 2013 and its heritage buildings were renovated with Adelaide architects Grieve Gillett. The work received a 2014 award from the Australian Institute of Architects for heritage architecture.

The South Australian government granted the school a 50-year lease on the Glenside Precinct buildings next to the Adelaide Film Studios, home of the South Australian Film Corporation and related creative enterprises. The school's original Glenside campus was a three-story teaching and studio building, including spaces for classes, integrated student studios, lecture room, media room, enlarged library and display space for artwork on each level.

In the quality indicators for learning and teaching survey for 2017, the school was ranked the best art school in Australia (second best in 2016). In 2018,  SALA (South Australian Living Artists) festival director Penny Griggs succeeded Ingrid Kellenbach as chief executive. 

Other related ADELAIDE AZ articles

Dr Jeff Nicholas (inset) three-volume Behind the Streets of Adelaide used profiles of the 58 men and women named for Adelaide and North Adelaide’s streets on May 23, 1837, to reflect the success and failures of the radical vision for South Australia settlement bostered by upper middle class liberals in the United Kingom.
Heritage >
Jeff Nicholas's 3-volume 'Behind the Streets of Adelaide' paves radical liberal thinking pushing South Australia's start
READ MORE+
Adelaide beachside Semaphore Palais, from 1922, was saved from threat of being demolished by being placed on the South Australian state heritage list in 1989. In 2024, the state government decided against selling the palais and to keep it as a public asset, leased as a hotel (inset).
Beaches >
Semaphore Palais, from 1922, Adelaide beach icon saved by state heritage listing in 1989; kept in public hands
READ MORE+
The East End Market Hotel from 1868 on East Terrace, Adelaide city, was part owned by Richard Vaughan, the East End Market founder. The hotel's East Terrace facade was restyled, along with adjoining shops, in the 1920s. The street frontage (inset) was featured for scenes from 2024 teevision series Ladies in Black.
Hotels >
East End Market Hotel from 1868 opens as the early-hours pub for workers at fruit and veg market in Adelaide city
READ MORE+
The Torrens training depot and parade ground area near Adelaide city''s River Torrens had history going back to a hunting and gathering area for Kaunra people. Inset: The 1840s painting by Robert Davenport. looking north toward Adelaide city, shows a flag pole at the entrance to the government house grounds, with the government quarry behind it.
Military >
Torrens training depot area near Adelaide city has a history drilling through multiple layers: Kaurna, quarry, dump
READ MORE+
null
National >
Burra, South Australia's historic mining town, gives name to 1979 charter for Australian approach to heritage
READ MORE+
Hans Heysen made Australian gum trees, especially from the Flinders ranges of South Australia, the subject of intense study in his paintings. 
Galleries >
Hans Heysen, most Australian of painters, has loyalty questioned by Adelaide police during World War I
READ MORE+