Wirra Wirra Hotel

Daniel Smedley, director, Studio S2 Architects, the South Australian architecture studio commissioned to undertake documentation and compliance for the Wirra Wirra project, 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 McLaren Vale and McMurtrie Rd provides,” he said.

“This will be achieved by designing the buildings to sit behind and blend in with the native tree line.

“The buildings will be finished with a mix of local limestone, granite and bluestone, with hardwood natural stained finishes. The roofs will 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.”

Australian developer Greaton has lodged the development application for its Wirra Wirra Wellness Resort project with the City of Onkaparinga.

Being delivered in a partnership with Wirra Wirra winery, the resort will be built on Wirra Wirra’s grounds in McLaren Vale.

The $30 million resort, the first luxury accommodation in the region, will be situated among vineyards between the existing 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, whose portfolio of premier resorts includes the Fairmont Sanur Beach Bali and Four Seasons Resort Bali at Jimbaran Bay.

The resulting scheme is a 33-key resort spread across 10 separate buildings, with nine double-storey buildings, known as casitas, set to be built. The existing Wigley house will be transformed into a bridal suite and Sparrow’s Lodge, 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.

Nicho Teng, managing director, Greaton, says the project will bring an unsurpassed level of luxury to the region.

“The Wirra Wirra resort will be like nothing else in South Australia,” he said.

“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.

“We are also very excited to be negotiating with an international wellness-oriented resort operator who also have no current presence in Australia. While 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.”

Andrew Kay, Managing Director, Wirra Wirra, said they were very pleased with the direction and progress the resort project was taking.

“The design is well integrated into the winery site and shows great empathy with our surroundings,” he said.

“To introduce the first five-star resort operation in McLaren Vale is not just a coup for us, but a catalyst for job creation, upskilling and growth in the region.

“The knock-on effect to local businesses and suppliers cannot be underestimated and I look forward to seeing the economic and community benefits from this investment in wine tourism.”

Construction is scheduled to commence in November 2020, with completion slated for July 2022.

Location: McLaren Vale
Client: Greaton Developments