Whether they’re much-loved tourist attractions, or iconic landmarks – they play an important part in shaping the identity of our city.

But have you ever wondered who actually owns them?

We peer behind the facade of 13 Adelaide landmarks and take a look at who owns them, with some surprising results.

From a superannuation fund part owning a key piece of infrastructure, to an internationally owned shopping hub, the money behind some of Adelaide’s best-known buildings comes from far and wide.

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Adelaide Airport

The impressively renovated Adelaide Airport. Picture: South Australian Tourism Commision.

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Adelaide Airport Limited purchased the long term leases of Adelaide and Parafield Airports, from the Commonwealth of Australia, in May 1998. UniSuperLTD is the key shareholder of Adelaide Airport Limited, owning 50.5 per cent of shares, followed by Igneo Infrastructure Partners (15.3 per cent), IFM Investors (15.1 per cent), HostPlus (15 per cent) and Perron (4.1 per cent).

Aeroplanes waiting to take off from Adelaide Airport. Picture: South Australian Tourism Commission

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Adelaide Oval

Adelaide Oval at dusk. Picture: Phil Hillyard

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Adelaide Oval is managed by the Adelaide Oval Stadium Management Authority but owned by Adelaide City Council. AOSMA is a joint venture company of the two entities responsible for growing and developing the codes of cricket and football in South Australia – the South Australian Cricket Association and the South Australian National Football League – and operates the venue on an 80-year lease from the State Government. It is responsible for running, maintaining, and developing Adelaide Oval and there are obligations to pay annual rent and sinking fund contributions.

Adelaide Oval lit up in blue and yellow, in solidarity of Ukraine in Adelaide, Kaurna Yarta, South Australia on Friday, February 25, 2022. (The Advertiser/ Morgan Sette)

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Myer Centre

Myer Centre Rundle Mall’s recent facelift. Picture: Eva Blandis

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Myer Centre Adelaide – the largest shopping centre in Rundle Mall – was acquired by Singapore-based Starhill Global REIT in 2015 for $288m.

Anchored by the Myer department store and the first UNIQLO in South Australia, the mall features a curated selection of specialty retailers offering a diverse mix of popular international retailers and national brands.

The office component of Myer Centre Adelaide includes Terrace Towers, a six-storey 81,117 sq ft office tower above the mall and two heritage buildings – Shell House and Goldsbrough House.

Rundle Mall prior to the facelift. Picture: Supplied

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RAA house

The recently renamed RAA House. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Kelly Barnes

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The building was originally built for the State Bank of South Australia and was formerly known as the State Bank building. It was renamed BankSA building, following the 1991 State Bank Collapse. From 2007 to 2022, after Westpac acquired BankSA, it was known as Westpac House. In December 2022, RAA purchased naming rights to the tower. Today, the property is owned by infrastructure funds manager ICAM and real estate investment firm Abacus Group, who each have a 50 per cent share in the building.

In a previous incarnation as Westpac House. Picture: Brad Fleet

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Crowne Plaza Adelaide

Crowne Plaza Adelaide at 27 Frome Street, Adelaide. Picture: Crowne Plaza Adelaide

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The luxury hotel is owned by the Samaras family and operated by InterContinental Hotels Group (Australia) Pty Ltd.

The hotel first opened its doors to guests in 2020, delivering in excess of 2000 employment opportunities as part of the construction project. It features 329 guest rooms and spacious suites feature the US-patented WorkLife Room design, a unique concept that caters to guests’ blended lifestyles. Crowne Plaza is housed in Adelaide’s tallest building, Frome Central Tower One, standing at 138 meters tall and located at 27 Frome Street.

Guests enjoy the impressive Crowne Plaza Adelaide. Picture: Crowne Plaza Adelaide

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Adelaide Festival Centre and Her Majesty’s Theatre

The Festival Centre as seen from Adelaide’s riverbank. Picture: Michael Waterhouse/Tourism SA

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The Adelaide Festival Centre is Australia’s first capital city multipurpose arts centre which incorporates the Festival Theatre, Dunstan Playhouse, Space Theatre, and several galleries and function spaces. It is managed by the Adelaide Festival Centre Trust, a statutory authority under the Adelaide Festival Centre Trust Act 1971, created by an act of Parliament. The Trust also manages Her Majesty’s Theatre, which it purchased in July 2017 from Arts South Australia for $8 million

The recently revamped Her Majesty’s Theatre. Source: Supplied

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Memorial Drive

Memorial Drive’s legendary tennis centre. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Roy VanDerVegt

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Memorial Drive Park, more generally referred to as “Memorial Drive”, is a tennis venue, located adjacent to the Adelaide Oval. Land Services SA shows the property is owned by Adelaide City Council. However, it was the State Goverment which invested $10m to construct a canopy-roof structure over Memorial Drive Park in 2019 and a further $44m in 2020 to construct constructing two new permanent grandstands surrounding the main court.

The impressive facade of Memorial Drive. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Roy VanDerVegt

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The National Wine Centre of Australia

The impressive facade of the National Wine Centre. Picture: Supplied.

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Owned by the University of Adelaide, the National Wine Centre – commonly the “Wine Centre” – is involved with on-Campus sustainability activities and projects, as part of the University Sustainability plan and also participates in programs committed to supporting some of the most vulnerable people in the community. The Wine Centre first opened its doors in 2001 and contains an interactive permanent exhibition of winemaking, introducing visitors to the technology, varieties and styles of wine. It also has a wine tasting area, giving visitors the opportunity to taste and compare wines from different areas of Australia.

The intricate timberwork of the building designed to imitate the curve of a wine barrel. Picture: Supplied.

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South Australian Museum

South Australian Museum on North Tce. Picture: MATT LOXTON

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The South Australian Museum – commonly the “Adelaide Museum” – was founded in 1856 and is owned by the Government of South Australia. It is managed by a board of eight people with a diverse range of business, arts, science and cultural expertise. They determine the strategic direction for the Museum, and are responsible for the obligations of the Museum as determined by the South Australian Museum Act 1976. The day-to-day operations of the Museum are the responsibility of the executive team, which approves internal decisions relating to running the Museum and aid the Board in achieving strategic objectives.

SkyCity Adelaide

The impressive SkyCity casino overlooking the Festival Centre. Picture: Brenton Edwards

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Adelaide Casino, known commercially as SkyCity Adelaide, is a large casino and recreational venue on the north edge of the Adelaide city centre. It is owned by New Zealand-based gambling and entertainment company SkyCity Entertainment Group, which purchased the business in 2000. SkyCity Adelaide is the city’s 10th largest employer and injects around $30 million into the State each year through the employment of over 1000 staff and by paying approximately $19m annually in state taxes.

The curved lines of SkyCity stand out against the right angles of its neighbouring buildings. Picture: Brenton Edwards

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Mount Thebarton

Adelaide’s Ice Arena, or more commonly known as Mount Thebarton. Picture: Supplied

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Formerly known as Snowdome and Mt Thebarton Snow and Ice, The Ice Arena (stylised as IceArenA) is Adelaide’s premier ice sports and recreational ice skating venue. The property is owned by David Lee, a Sydney-based property developer who bought the landmark site in 2014 for $6.1m, according to Land Services SA records.

Formerly known as The Snow Dome, Adelaide’s Ice Arena offers ice skating fun for people of all ages. Picture: Supplied

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Adelaide Zoo

Adelaide Zoo’s main entrance on Plane Tree Drive. Photo – Naomi Jellicoe

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Adelaide Zoo is the only major metropolitan zoo in Australia to be owned and operated by a conservation charity, Zoos SA. First opening its door to the public in 1883, the zoo is home to more than 2400 animals and 200 species of exotic and native mammals, birds, reptiles and fish exhibited over eight hectares of magnificent botanic surroundings. It is the second oldest zoo in the nation and represents a significant part of South Australia’s heritage and social history. According to Land Services SA, the site has a capital value of 22.825m.

The Adelaide Zoo’s Frome Rd entrance before its renovation.

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