[COM] Victoria Square Upgrade - $24m

[Phantom]

So essentially add a heap of Theme park style attractions around the square?

Riiiiiiiight........

A mix of quality residential buildings, with a mix of office accommodation and retail precincts, ala Hindmarsh square is a much better proposition.

Why is that better? It sounds boring to me.

It's probably mildly more professional, even if it is less fun... Attractions could look rundown or just plain tacky if it was done the cheap way.

[pushbutton]

Agreed. I wasn't suggesting for one second that it should be cheap. I want Adelaide to be a top quality tourist destination! Not just to attract tourism as a major economic contributor, but to also make Adelaide a fun, exciting place to live.

[Eurostar]

I don't like the arbours at all, they look ugly.

[monotonehell]

Agreed. I wasn't suggesting for one second that it should be cheap. I want Adelaide to be a top quality tourist destination! Not just to attract tourism as a major economic contributor, but to also make Adelaide a fun, exciting place to live.

When were you last at the Gold Coast? And if it's not too a personal question; how old were you then?

[pushbutton]

I was last in the Gold Coast in January, and was 38.

[Nathan]

I could think of few worse places to go to.

Victoria Square should be a tourist attraction, not a tacky tourist trap.

[pushbutton]

I could think of few worse places to go to.

Victoria Square should be a tourist attraction, not a tacky tourist trap.

I absolutely agree that's what Victoria Square should be!

No point in me trying to explain how amazing the Gold Coast is. If you don't like the sort of things there are to do there then I won't try to convert you. However personally apart from Dubai maybe (and I mean only maybe as I haven't been there except to pass through the airport) I can't think of anywhere better in the world.

[mattblack]

Well one thing's for sure in my opinion. There's no point spending money landscaping Victoria Square if they don't do something to really encourage and facilitate new investment in the buildings surrounding it. There is nothing really attractive about the area around the square but it does have potential (like a lot of things in SA).

I don't mind the idea of a brand new casino complex there, but I don't think it's realistic now given that SkyCity seems to have committed to a major upgrade of the existing casino, and the SA Government has given them a monopoly on casinos in SA.

The good news is there are many other exciting developments that COULD surround Victoria Square. It could become a place where people actually want to spend time, especially in the evenings and at weekend.

Off the top of my head how about an open-air food court (top quality) with live entertainment. Relocate the Ice Arena from Thebarton and add indoor skiing and tobogans served by modern cable cars, plus a snowman building / snowball fight area. A wax museum, and a few gold coast style attractions like Infinity, Ripleys, and Draculas (attraction and dining experience in the same premises).

At one end of the square could be a London Eye style ferris wheel, and a couple of thrill rides.

Decorate the whole area and the square itself with tasteful yet colourful lighting at night, and have it filled with pleasant music day and night. Bite the bullet and close all the roads around the perimeter of the square so the whole precinct becomes pedestrian friendly.

If they put all that in, well designed and serviced by excellent, free or very cheap parking, I would bet my life savings it would be a massive success and make Victoria Square literally the centrepeice of SA.

As for Central Markets, I am well aware a lot of people love it, so it would be foolish to completely get rid of it. However I do think it's seriously overdue for a major re-build. I would get rid of the arcades and Coles completely (Coles have a new store in Rundle Mall now so probably wouldn't mind too much) and use the space for an expanded and more spacious market. Not quite "sterile" as such, but at least a whole lot more attractive and pleasant than what's there now, which (without meaning offense to anyone) is dirty and dated and smelly in my opinion.

How was your first foray to the fringe the other night Pushbutton? Were you bored or pleasantly surprised by how hip, happening and pumping Adelaide can be?

As for your post above I don't even know where to start ............ so I won't.

[pushbutton]

I posted about it on the "events" section. I went to the Faulty Towers Dining Experience. It was absolutely like being in the TV series! The cast were virtually indistinguishable from the original actors. I didn't stop laughing for the whole 2 hours! I certainly wasn't bored lol!

Yes it has whet my appetite to potentially try some of the other things going on as part of the Fringe. My main criticism though (apart from the name "fringe" would be that to do more than a couple of such events would be expensive, and that it's only on for a few weeks each year.

None of that takes anything away from the experience I enjoyed yesterday!

[Matt]

Pop to the Garden if you haven't already, that's free as far as I know.
When I was in Adelaide I was genuinely there every night. So much happening and such a great atmosphere.
Next trip home I need to try and make sure it coincides with Fringe time!

[monotonehell]

Pop to the Garden if you haven't already, that's free as far as I know.
When I was in Adelaide I was genuinely there every night. So much happening and such a great atmosphere.
Next trip home I need to try and make sure it coincides with Fringe time!

I call shenanigans as the Garden is closed Monday nights.

[Matt]

Best not pop to the Garden then.

[pushbutton]

Thanks for the tips!

[crawf]

Pop to the Garden if you haven't already, that's free as far as I know.
When I was in Adelaide I was genuinely there every night. So much happening and such a great atmosphere.
Next trip home I need to try and make sure it coincides with Fringe time!

I call shenanigans as the Garden is closed Monday nights.

According to the website it was only Monday 18/02 it was closed.

OPENING HOURS

Mon – Thu: 5pm – 1am
Friday: 5pm – 3am
Saturday: 10am – 3am
Sunday: 10am – 1am

note: The Garden is closed Monday 18th Feb.

[Pikey]

I could think of few worse places to go to.

Victoria Square should be a tourist attraction, not a tacky tourist trap.

I absolutely agree that's what Victoria Square should be!

No point in me trying to explain how amazing the Gold Coast is. If you don't like the sort of things there are to do there then I won't try to convert you. However personally apart from Dubai maybe (and I mean only maybe as I haven't been there except to pass through the airport) I can't think of anywhere better in the world.

This explains plenty....