Port Adelaide Plaza

Port Adelaide Plaza is a shopping centre located at 200 Commercial Road in Port Adelaide, South Australia. The property originated in 1986 as a $9 million Super Kmart development. At the time, the Port Adelaide store was described as South Australia's first hypermarket, and it was paired with an open-air mall containing specialty retailers. The original format changed in 1989 when the Super Kmart concept was discontinued and the hypermarket building was divided into separate Coles and Kmart stores. The centre was known as Port Canal Shopping Centre for much of its earlier history. Precision Group acquired the property in 1998 for $36 million. Over time, the centre served as a local convenience and comparison-shopping destination anchored by major supermarket and discount department store tenants, while also providing smaller specialty shops and food outlets. A major transformation began after the Port Adelaide Enfield Council approved a $10 million upgrade in July 2014. In 2017, the South Australian government approved a substantially larger redevelopment initially valued at $45 million. The project involved constructing a new mall connected to the existing Coles and Kmart stores, replacing the former Port Canal Shopping Centre buildings, and repositioning the property under the Port Adelaide Plaza name. The first stage opened in April 2019 with an Aldi supermarket, additional specialty retailers, and a casual dining precinct. Strong early leasing, including the earlier-than-expected arrival of Aldi, left the first stage 91 percent leased at opening. The redevelopment continued in stages. In December 2020, the second stage was completed after the project cost had increased to approximately $50 million. This phase added about a dozen further dining and retail businesses. The final stage opened in October 2021 with 12 additional retailers and reported occupancy of 97 percent. At that point, the centre was described as having approximately 60 retailers and 17 casual dining restaurants, with further businesses expected to open during 2022. Port Adelaide Plaza has also incorporated an environmental-energy project. In 2019, Precision Group agreed with Autonomous Energy to install an 824-kilowatt rooftop solar system. The array covers approximately 5,000 square metres and was designed to supply around half of the centre's total electricity needs. The tenant mix began changing again in the mid-2020s. Wesfarmers announced in July 2023 that the Kmart store would close permanently in 2024. Port Adelaide Plaza subsequently announced that Big W would replace Kmart, with the new store opening in November 2024. Coles closed on 9 February 2025, and Woolworths was expected to open in July 2025. These changes indicate a continuing role for the centre as a neighbourhood shopping destination while its anchor-tenancy strategy evolves.

Port Adelaide Plaza began in November 1986 as a $9 million Super Kmart development on Commercial Road in Port Adelaide. The project combined a large hypermarket with an open-air mall of specialty retailers. The Port Adelaide Super Kmart was notable as South Australia's first hypermarket. The format was short-lived: in 1989, the Super Kmart concept was abandoned and the main building was divided into separate Coles and Kmart stores. The property operated for many years under the name Port Canal Shopping Centre. Precision Group purchased the centre in 1998 for $36 million. Its role was primarily that of a local shopping destination, anchored by major grocery and discount retail tenants and supported by smaller specialty businesses. A new phase began in July 2014, when the Port Adelaide Enfield Council approved a $10 million improvement program. In 2017, the South Australian government approved a broader redevelopment, initially estimated at $45 million. The plan called for a new mall connected to the existing Coles and Kmart stores. It also involved demolishing the existing Port Canal Shopping Centre and replacing it with a substantially modernised complex operating under the Port Adelaide Plaza name. Stage one opened in April 2019. It introduced Aldi, several specialty retailers, and a casual dining precinct. Early demand from tenants, together with Aldi's earlier-than-expected opening, resulted in the stage being reported as 91 percent leased. During the same year, Precision Group reached an agreement with Autonomous Energy for an 824-kilowatt rooftop solar installation. The system occupies roughly 5,000 square metres and was designed to meet about half of the centre's electricity demand. The second redevelopment stage was completed on 3 December 2020. By then, the overall project value had reached approximately $50 million, and the stage added around a dozen further retail and dining businesses. The final stage opened in October 2021. It added another 12 retailers and was reported as 97 percent leased. The completed centre was described as containing about 60 retailers and 17 casual dining restaurants, with more businesses scheduled to commence operations in 2022. Anchor tenants subsequently changed. In July 2023, Wesfarmers announced the planned closure of the Kmart store in 2024. Port Adelaide Plaza announced in February 2024 that Big W would take over the space. Kmart closed in the middle of 2024, and Big W opened in November. The centre's supermarket arrangement also changed: Coles closed on 9 February 2025, with Woolworths expected to open in July 2025. The centre therefore remains an active retail property whose identity has been shaped by redevelopment, tenant replacement, and the expansion of food and casual-dining uses.

• 2025

  Coles replacement planned

  [1]Port Adelaide Plazaen.wikipedia.org

  Coles closed on 9 February, with Woolworths expected to open in July.

• 2024

  Big W replaces Kmart

  [1]Port Adelaide Plazaen.wikipedia.org

  Kmart closed during 2024 and Big W opened in the former anchor-store space in November.

• 2021

  Final redevelopment stage opens

  [1]Port Adelaide Plazaen.wikipedia.org

  The final stage opened in October with 12 new retailers and reported occupancy of 97 percent.

• 2020

  Second redevelopment stage completed

  [1]Port Adelaide Plazaen.wikipedia.org

  The second stage was completed on 3 December, adding new retail and dining tenants.

• 2019

  Stage one opens and centre is rebranded

  [1]Port Adelaide Plazaen.wikipedia.org

  The first stage of the new Port Adelaide Plaza opened with Aldi, specialty stores, and casual dining.

• 2017

  Major redevelopment approved

  [1]Port Adelaide Plazaen.wikipedia.org

  The South Australian government approved a redevelopment initially valued at $45 million.

• 2014

  Council approves initial upgrade

  [1]Port Adelaide Plazaen.wikipedia.org

  The Port Adelaide Enfield Council approved a $10 million upgrade program.

• 1998

  Precision Group acquires the centre

  [1]Port Adelaide Plazaen.wikipedia.org

  Precision Group purchased the Port Canal Shopping Centre for $36 million.

• 1989

  Hypermarket converted to Coles and Kmart

  [1]Port Adelaide Plazaen.wikipedia.org

  After the Super Kmart concept was discontinued, the building was divided into separate Coles and Kmart stores.

• 1986

  Super Kmart development opens

  [1]Port Adelaide Plazaen.wikipedia.org

  The original $9 million development opened in November with South Australia's first Super Kmart hypermarket and an adjoining open-air specialty mall.

A neighbourhood shopping centre serving Port Adelaide and surrounding South Australian communities, combining supermarket and discount-department-store anchors with specialty retail, casual dining, and everyday services.

• Retail property · 1986

  Shopping centre retail offer

  Port Adelaide Plaza provides a multi-category retail environment rather than manufacturing products itself. Its offer includes supermarket groceries, discount department-store merchandise, specialty retail, food and beverage, and everyday services. The centre's redevelopment expanded the mix beyond the original hypermarket-and-open-air-mall format and added a dedicated casual dining precinct.

• Supermarket · 2019

  Aldi

  Aldi was introduced during the first stage of the redevelopment, which opened in April 2019. Its arrival strengthened the centre's grocery offer and contributed to early leasing demand. Aldi is one of the explicitly identified anchor-style supermarket businesses associated with the redeveloped centre.

• Discount department store · 2024

  Big W

  Big W replaced the centre's Kmart anchor after Kmart closed in 2024. Port Adelaide Plaza announced the replacement in February 2024, and Big W opened in November 2024. The store provides a broad discount department-store range and preserves a major non-food anchor within the centre.

• Supermarket · 2025

  Woolworths

  Woolworths was announced as the planned replacement for Coles after Coles closed on 9 February 2025. The source material identified an expected opening in July 2025, making it a planned supermarket component of the centre's later tenant mix.

• Food and beverage · 2019

  Casual dining precinct

  The redeveloped centre includes a casual dining precinct introduced with stage one in 2019. By the opening of the final redevelopment stage in 2021, Port Adelaide Plaza was reported to have 17 casual dining restaurants, positioning food and beverage as a significant part of the visitor experience.

• 2024

  Replace Coles with WoolworthsOther

  Background

  Coles was scheduled to leave the centre, requiring a new supermarket anchor.

  Action taken

  Coles closed on 9 February 2025, and Woolworths was identified as the expected replacement, with an anticipated July 2025 opening.

  Aftermath

  The planned change would alter the centre's principal supermarket identity while maintaining a full-line grocery anchor.

  Source

• 2023

  Replace Kmart anchorOther

  Background

  Wesfarmers announced that the Kmart store at Port Adelaide Plaza would close permanently in 2024.

  Action taken

  The centre selected Big W as the replacement anchor. Kmart closed during 2024 and Big W opened in November 2024.

  Aftermath

  The change retained a major discount department-store presence while replacing one national chain with another.

  Source

• 2019

  Install rooftop solar generationStrategy

  Background

  The expanded shopping centre created a large rooftop suitable for on-site energy generation.

  Action taken

  Precision Group entered an agreement with Autonomous Energy for an 824-kilowatt solar system covering approximately 5,000 square metres.

  Aftermath

  The system was designed to provide around 50 percent of the centre's total electricity requirement.

  Source

• 2017

  Proceed with major redevelopment and rebrandingStrategy

  Background

  The existing Port Canal Shopping Centre was to be replaced by a larger, modernised mall connected to the Coles and Kmart stores.

  Action taken

  The South Australian government approved a redevelopment initially valued at $45 million. The project ultimately involved a new centre branded Port Adelaide Plaza.

  Aftermath

  The project opened in stages from 2019 through 2021 and expanded the retail and dining offer.

  Initial redevelopment value. $45 million (2017)

  Source

• 2014

  Approve initial centre upgradeStrategy

  Background

  The ageing Port Canal Shopping Centre required improvement and repositioning as a contemporary local retail destination.

  Action taken

  The Port Adelaide Enfield Council approved a $10 million upgrade program.

  Aftermath

  The approval preceded the larger redevelopment later approved in 2017.

  Approved upgrade value. $10 million (2014)

  Source

1. 1Port Adelaide Plazaen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Port Adelaide Plaza official websiteportadelaideplaza.com.au