A former Davoren Park supermarket that has stood empty for more than five years has been transformed into a new creative space for children and families, officially opening today, Tuesday 20 October.
Located within the Swallowcliffe Children’s Precinct in Adelaide’s northern suburbs, the new Children’s Creative Space offers local children somewhere to play, explore their creativity, make friends and connect with their community.
The project has been shaped by local children and families, who identified the need for a safe and welcoming place where young people could express themselves, discover new interests and spend time together.
The abandoned supermarket in 2024
The space has been established through the Children in the North Alliance, a $20 million, 10-year partnership between the South Australian Government and Minderoo Foundation, with support from the property’s owners, the Chapley Group.
Arts organisation Carclew will operate the centre, working alongside families, caregivers and children to develop creative programs that reflect the interests and needs of the local community.
For Davoren Park, the opening gives new purpose to a building that had sat vacant for years, while bringing more opportunities for children to enjoy arts and creative activities close to home.
Member for Taylor Nick Champion welcomed the transformation.
“For more than five years, the old supermarket sat empty in the middle of our community. Today it reopens into a space full of colour and fun for children in the northern suburbs,” he said.
The new centre forms part of broader efforts to improve access to early childhood education, health services and family support across Adelaide’s north.
More than 600 children and their families already use the Swallowcliffe Children’s Precinct, which brings together education, childcare, community services and activities.
Existing initiatives include on-site children’s nurses, health and development checks for four-year-olds, oral health packs for local children, community celebrations and free after-school and school holiday activities.
The creative space follows the announcement of a separate $16.3 million integrated early childhood hub planned for Davoren Park, which will increase local early learning places from 55 to 100 when it opens in 2029.
That development will bring together three-year-old preschool, long day care, health and development services, parenting programs and other family supports in one location.
Helen Connolly, Chair of the Swallowcliffe Children’s Precinct Committee, said the new creative space was a direct response to what children and families had asked for.
“We asked local children what they wanted. Their answer was simple: a safe, welcoming place to express themselves, build confidence, connect with others and enjoy the experiences every child deserves.”
Minderoo Foundation will fund the Children’s Creative Space for its first two years, with further partnerships to be explored to support its future programs.
The centre is intended to become a lasting part of the Davoren Park community, giving local families a dedicated place to connect, create and enjoy new experiences together.
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