Leading Australian developer, Greaton, has lodged the development application for its highly-anticipated Wirra Wirra Wellness Resort project.
Delivered as part of a unique partnership with Wirra Wirra winery, the resort will be built on Wirra Wirra’s grounds at 255 Strout Road, McLaren Vale, approximately 38 kilometres south of Adelaide.
The $30M+ resort, the first luxury accommodation in the region, will be nestled amongst thriving vineyards between the existing Wirra Wirra winery and the heritage property that once belonged to founder Robert Wigley, which will be repurposed as resort accommodation.
Greaton has appointed Bangkok/Singapore-based luxury resort architects, Blink Design Group.
The 33-room resort will be spread across 10 separate buildings, with nine double-storey buildings, known as casitas, to be built.
The existing Wigley house is set to be transformed into a Bridal Suite and Sparrow’s Lodge, while the vacant building at the winery entrance will be repurposed as a guests’ reception.
Guest facilities will include a swimming pool – set within a reflection pool – as well as a function hall and wellness centre.
Greaton’s Managing Director, Nicho Teng, said that the project will bring an unsurpassed level of luxury to the region.
“The Wirra Wirra resort will be like nothing else in South Australia. We are proud to bring the expertise of an internationally-acclaimed architectural firm that specialises in luxury accommodation to this location. This is their first project in Australia, and I’m honoured to bring them to my home state.”
“South Australia, and particularly the McLaren Vale region, well and truly deserves a high-end resort like this. We have no doubt it will attract more well-heeled tourists to the area which will directly increase local tourism revenue,” Mr Teng said.
“We are also very excited to be negotiating with an international wellness-oriented resort operator who also have no current presence in Australia. Whilst we are not in a position to reveal who they are just yet, we can say they operate some of the most renowned resorts and hotels around the world,” he added.
The McLaren Vale region is home to more than 80 wineries and is known for its premium Shiraz and Grenache.
It is Australia’s fifth-largest wine region by value and home to several world-renowned brands including Hardys, Wirra Wirra and d’Arenberg.
McLaren Vale is also the gateway to the Fleurieu Peninsula, which accounts for an average of 762,000 overnight tourist stays worth $258M in expenditure annually (Tourism SA).
South Australian architecture studio, Studio S2 Architects, will undertake documentation and compliance for the Wirra Wirra project.
Studio S2 Architects Director, Daniel Smedley, said the site provided great inspiration with its historic buildings and vineyard landscape.
“The resort has been designed to reflect elements of the buildings on-site and in the region, and to enjoy the vineyard and Australian bushland setting, while respecting the wine region aesthetics that McMurtrie Rd provides.”
This will be achieved by designing the buildings to sit behind and blend in with the native tree line.
Mr Smedley further detailed that the buildings will be finished with a mix of local limestone, granite and bluestone, with hardwood natural stained finishes. The rooves will also be in dark grey metal sheet roof cladding to fit in with its surrounding context.
“As a local architectural practice specialising in tourism projects, we are excited to be working on a project of this calibre in conjunction with the team at Blink Design Group, and a local consulting team, while continuing our long-term working relationship with Wirra Wirra,” he commented.
Construction is scheduled to commence in November 2020, with completion slated for July 2022.