The Opening of Eighty Eight O'Connell

North Adelaide, SA – 17 October 2025 –

Commercial & General has officially opened Eighty Eight O’Connell, marking the completion of one of South Australia’s most significant private developments. Valued at over $300 million, the project delivers a transformative mixed-use precinct that combines 158 premium residences with more than 17 commercial and retail tenancies, setting a new benchmark for urban living and activation in Adelaide.

The site, left dormant for 36 years after the closure of Le Cornu Furniture store back in 1989, took 36 months to deliver by an all South Australian project team. Executive Chairman of Commercial & General, Jamie McClurg notes that despite a legacy of resistance to evolution, the project has been exceptionally supported by local community

“We have been incredibly privileged to be trusted by so many residents of North Adelaide and its surrounds to deliver on our commitment in bringing this project to life. Ultimately the nay sayers, while a loud voice did not reflect the sentiment of the broader community – as demonstrated by an extraordinary pre-sales campaign.”

With no short-term rentals allowed within the project, attraction from owner occupiers has been strong seeing the benefit of a residential precinct that prioritises quality integrated lifestyle amenities. Food and beverage options within the precinct include Italian experiential food market Mercato, cult gelati brand, Gelato Messina and Japanese inspired destination eatery, Yakisan, alongside fashion and homewares retail and premium flexible workspaces by HUB Australia. Curated health and wellness offerings including on-site cancer centre, radiology, allied health, state-of-the-art gym and medical centre cements the precinct as a new benchmark inner city urban living.

While pricing of Eighty Eight O’Connell’s premium residences including penthouses have set records in the market, Commercial & General proudly delivered diversity in product throughout Eighty Eight including some affordable 1-bedroom apartments which sold for ~$455,000 back in 2022.

“Diversity in product is something we always look to achieve when bringing residential projects to market” says Jamie. “We know how to create value and pride ourselves on innovative design that can maximise space to achieve outcomes that will add to the fabric of community we are creating.”

A Major Milestone for North Adelaide

The opening event was attended by key dignitaries including the Premier of South Australia, the Hon. Peter Malinauskas MP, Commercial & General Executive Chairman, Jamie McClurg, and the Lord Mayor of Adelaide, Dr Jane Lomax Smith. Their addresses celebrated the project as a catalyst for renewal in North Adelaide, delivering long-awaited vibrancy and opportunity to one of the city’s most iconic locations.

Precinct Activation Now Underway

Coinciding with the official opening, many of the precinct’s major tenancies have now commenced operations:

• Hub Australia – a state-of-the-art flexible workspace provider, offering premium coworking and flexible work solutions across multiple levels.
• Yakisan – a contemporary Japanese inspired dining experience led by culinary great, Adam Liston that adds to the city’s growing reputation as a culinary destination.
• SkyPark – a unique publicly accessible sky park linking the three residential buildings, combining landscaped gardens with curated dining and wellness experience.
• CHANGE– a world-class health and fitness offering, further reinforcing Eighty Eight O’Connell as a hub for wellbeing and lifestyle.

Other retail, dining, and wellness tenancies are in the final stages of fit-out and will open progressively through October and November, ensuring a full and vibrant activation of the podium precinct.

Transformative Design & Community Impact

Located on the 7,500 m² site of the former Le Cornu furniture store, the development’s design integrates residential, commercial, and community functions across three towers—Archer, Centenary, and Tynte—connected by the elevated SkyPark. Amenities for residents and visitors include a private pool, expansive world-class gym facilities, spa and wellness areas, landscaped public spaces together with retail amenity.

Executive Chairman Jamie McClurg said the project represents more than just a construction achievement:

“Eighty Eight O’Connell has been decades in the making. Today, Commercial & General alongside our building division, Tandem are proud to deliver not just a building, but a living, breathing precinct that combines community, commerce, healthcare, lifestyle, and culture in one place.”

The Premier of South Australia, Peter Malinauskas, acknowledged the project as the benchmark for development in the state:

“88 O’Connell is a landmark development that is redefining how we shape the future of our city and communities. For decades, this site stood as a reminder of unrealised potential. Today, it is the blueprint for the kind of development we aspire to see in our city.”

Lord Mayor, Dr Jane Lomax Smith, highlighted the significance for North Adelaide:

“Commercial & General have delivered on their promise of generational change for the City of Adelaide, realising the potential of this site as a dynamic precinct that enriches and emboldens North Adelaide for a new era.”

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