Adelaide’s first Exhibition Building unearthed at Lot Fourteen

Remnants of Adelaide’s first Exhibition Building have been unearthed as development continues at Lot Fourteen.

This purpose-built pavilion, designed by Colonial Architect Edward Angus Hamilton and built in 1859 ready for the Australian Agricultural and Horticultural Show, was located near Frome Road, Adelaide Botanic Garden and behind the Adelaide Hospital.

The excavation team, contracted by Renewal SA, encountered footings and walls from the building, which were then were documented and recorded by a heritage architect. During the documentation fragments of pottery, metal work and a spent shot gun cartridge were also uncovered before being removed, in line with the heritage protocols and under the permit issued via Section 27 of the Heritage Places Act 1993.

Lot Fourteen public realm works are underway, finalising the internal road layout, formalising vehicle and pedestrian routes, extending streetscapes from Frome Road with tree plantings and garden beds and the installation of stormwater and other services. These works are expected to be completed by March 2026.

The (old) Exhibition Building was one of the first buildings on site, cost 2,000 pounds to build. The two storey tall building supported wide verandahs on two sides and three front entrances. A rotunda stood at the rear in the surrounding grounds.

The building was surpassed by the Jubilee Exhibition Building, which opened in 1887, where the University of Adelaide’s Napier Building now stands.

Lot Fourteen has a strong development pipeline, with construction of the flagship Innovation Centre, at the heart of the seven hectare site, scheduled to commence in early 2026.

Images courtesy of State Library South Australia.