Harbors Board Building Move, SA
A four-story building was constructed at 201 Victoria Square for National Mutual Life Assurance of Australia in 1884. The building was of Italian classical design with a French roof and a large square dome.
The South Australian Harbors Board (SAHB) was established by a South Australian government act in 1913, and the building became their headquarters in 1914. Extensions were carried out to the building in 1914 and 1945. The SAHB moved to a new headquarters building in Port Adelaide in 1979.
The State Government Insurance Corporation (SGIC) identified the corner of King William Street and Grote for the site of their new headquarters building.
To allow the construction of the new SGIC headquarters the building at 201 Victoria Square was moved 34 metres to the north in 1979. The façade and one room’s depth of the building was moved. The 1000 tonne structure was shifted on rollers along concrete and steel runway beams using hydraulic rams.
The original hanging staircase was dismantled by the South Australian government’s Public Buildings Department (now Department of Infrastructure and Transport) and placed in storage.
The building is currently a commercial office.
References:
“Engineering a City” City of Adelaide and Engineers Australia, 2009
Venus, R. “Engineering a City – City centre circuit”, Engineers Australia, November 2013
Kemp, DC; Pickles, JM; and Ward, RA, “Adelaide – Engineering and Industry – A guide to aspects of our engineering and industrial heritage in the City of Adelaide", Engineering Heritage Branch, Institution of Engineers Australia South Australian Division, March 1992.
