Acclaimed restaurants and a $575m redevelopment: Why life in North Adelaide has never been better

When the Adelaide Oval reopened in 2014 following a major $575 million redevelopment, local business owners were delighted, perhaps none more so than Tony Franzon.

The Queen’s Head Hotel is one of four Adelaide hotels owned by the Franzon family and it’s a mere two-minute walk from the impressive arena, which is home to both the Adelaide Crows and Port Adelaide.

“It’s great to have a bit of buzz around the area,” says Franzon, who says the oval plays host to an event just about every weekend of the year.

“There’s cricket and AFL and they’ve introduced concerts, with U2 and Metallica due later in the year. It brings people into the area and we’re the closest hotel to the oval.”

Homes with history

Brimming with National Trust and State Heritage homes, North Adelaide is widely regarded as an “old money” suburb and has long been a magnet for professionals working at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital, the Memorial Hospital and the nearby University of Adelaide.

Wrapped in parklands, the suburb sits just north of the River Torrens, with pedestrian access between Adelaide Oval and the CBD via the Riverbank Bridge. North Adelaide residents are also only a hop, skip and jump from the city zoo and Botanic Gardens.

“It’s a high-end suburb perched on a hill looking down over Adelaide,” says Toop & Toop Real Estate agent Sally Cameron. “I would equate it with Surry Hills in Sydney or East Melbourne. It’s close to all the sporting arenas, has beautiful character homes and is in walking distance of the city.”

There’s no shortage of eateries, from the award-winning restaurant at the Queen’s Head to Cameron’s favourite Ruby Red Flamingo, a colourful Italian diner. Cameron is also a fan of the modern and bright south-east Asian restaurant Gin Long Canteen and the traditional pizzeria Tony Tomatoes.

Sitting pretty

Cameron says people who live in North Adelaide tend to stay for a long time and she believes the suburb is overdue for strong capital growth in the wake of the oval redevelopment which has significantly re-energised the area. 

Cameron’s recent high-profile sales include an historic home on Jeffcott Street which attracted interstate interest but sold to a local for $3.3 million and an 1890 villa in Finniss Street which sold for $3.05 million. 

Her advice to anyone considering investing in the suburb? Just do it!

“You’ll be investing in a suburb that has massive long-term potential,” she says. “It’s the perfect place to be putting your money into.”

Top home in the area

It doesn’t get much more classic North Adelaide than this 1869 bluestone terrace.

High decorative ceilings and original fireplaces combine with whitewashed floorboards, designer light fittings, custom joinery and an all-white stone and gas kitchen to create a charming family home within walking distance of the parklands.

Toop & Toop Real Estate have the listing, which is being marketed with a $1.75 million-to-$1.8 million guide.