Historic North Adelaide Station transformed into creative hub with coffee, vintage and art

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A bold new chapter is about to unfold at one of Adelaide’s most historic sites, with the launch of Sharehouse this spring. Set within the heritage-listed North Adelaide Railway Station, the project is bringing fresh energy and imagination to a building that has stood quietly dormant since 2019.

The station, built in 1857, is the third-oldest in South Australia and still in active use. Tucked away in the city’s western parklands along War Memorial Drive, the Victorian-style cottage has previously been home to ventures including the Red House Shop & Café. Now, under the guidance of seven local artists, it is being transformed into a unique creative hub that blends art, retail, hospitality and community.

At the heart of the project are artists Liv Bellow, Alycia Bennett, Florian Cinco, Claude Creighton, Anri Mau, Anna O’Loughlin and Mark Valenzuela. Each has played a pivotal role in Adelaide’s creative scene, contributing to initiatives such as Sister Gallery, Negative Space, WHEAT and Aliwarus Exchange. Together, they are forging something new: a space that refuses to fit neatly into one category.

Sharehouse will house a curated gallery, working studios, a concept store, vinyl and vintage shop, event space, coffee house and beauty studio. It is designed as a place where no two visits look alike. Guests might attend a screen-printing workshop during an exhibition opening, sip locally roasted coffee while getting a haircut, or browse racks of vintage finds before sitting down for a nail art or tooth gem appointment. The eclectic mix is a deliberate reflection of Adelaide’s diverse creative spirit, and a way of making it accessible to all.

For co-directors Alycia Bennett and Olivia Bellow, the project is as much about honouring history as it is about carving a new path. “Our project has been a long time coming, and we’re thrilled about the opportunity to realise it at the North Adelaide Railway Station,” they said. “We’re excited to be part of the long history of a building that’s served as a community space in one way or another for over a century. We hope to offer something a bit different – a concept store and artist-run initiative that gives a space for collaboration, exchange, conversations, art, music, beauty, retail and great coffee.”

The venture has been made possible through a partnership between Renew Adelaide and the City of Adelaide. Renew Adelaide, which activates underutilised spaces with creative business concepts, has secured the station for Sharehouse until June 2026, with hopes of extending. This marks the organisation’s 330th supported business in its 15-year history.

Renew Adelaide CEO Gianna Murphy described Sharehouse as the essence of the organisation’s mission. “This venture not only revives a previously dormant building, but also shows how lowering the barriers of access to space can unlock creativity and bring art into the everyday.”

Sharehouse is scheduled to open in September/October 2025, offering Adelaide a new hub where art, business and community come together under one historic roof.