Adelaide's Victoria Square gets northern end upgrade in 2014 but southern side changes yet to be decided

Victoria Square remains the central setting for events such as the finish of the Adelaide-Darwin World Solar Challenge.
 

After years of debate over its form and future, Victoria Square/Tarntanyangga had the first $30 million stage – the northern half – of an upgrade finished in 2014.

The first stage included a large event space for up to 5000 people, a promenade with an “urban lounge”, a raised event space, a new water play fountain, modern public toilets, along with drinking fountains, bicycle racks, and “plug and play” infrastructure for pop-up cafes and events. The state heritage-listed Three Rivers Fountain was refurbished and moved to the square’s southern end.

The Square’s central roadway – linking the southern and northern ends, and connecting Grote Street and Wakefield Street – was renamed Reconciliation Plaza.The plaza has been designed for use as an events space. The central roadway has space for a dedicated bus way as well as pedestrian paths and bicycle lanes.

Victoria Square is the annual home for teams in the Tour Down Under international cycling event.

The new look square has hosted events and activities such as The Royal Croquet Club as a venue for the Adelaide Fringe 2014 (attracting 100,000 people) and Tasting Australia’s Town Square during April and May 2014 (attracting about 50,000 people).

In 2016, the city council considered what to do with the northern half of square – part of the state government’s 30-year plan for Greater Adelaide.

The sticking point is whether the state government should contribute funding to the northern half work.

The work could be scheduled for 2020 to coincide with a proposed development of the Central Market Arcade that will be back in the council’s hands when the 50-year lease to private interests expires in 2018.