Grote Business Precinct Adelaide, South Australia

Welcome to the
Grote Business Precinct
Adelaide, South Australia

The Gateway to the Heart of Adelaide

Championed by local business leaders and supported by the Lord Mayor of Adelaide Jane Lomax-Smith, Grote Street Business Association Inc (GSBA) was incorporated in May 2000 and Deb Lavis was elected as the inaugural President.

GSBA grew with a strong momentum with the aim to promote the area for shopping and business and to deal with issues in the area including safety and crime prevention, economic development, urban planning and investment growth into precinct.

GSBA soon created a vision statement....

'Vision - Viability, Visibility, Vitality & Variety'

"By 2003, Grote Street and its environs will be recognised as the growth precinct of the City of Adelaide and the place of choice for people to live, work and shop.

It will have expanded its retail and bulky goods base and provided for the Information Economy sector.

This revitalisation will be achieved by a unity of purpose, collaboration, innovation and investment."

In March 2001 a comprehensive business plan was completed and endorsed by GSBA, and presented to Council. The plan is summarized in the executive summary.

Membership grew steadily to well over 100 members. The Executive Committee from the outset has been made up of dedicated, productive and hardworking business leaders, representatives from schools and welfare organizations, and Councillors.

By end of 2002 GSBA had achieved further initiatives including establishing the first environmental precinct initiative in the city, Grote Eco Project, to assist businesses to trade towards sustainability, Grote ECO - Trading Towards Sustainability Program.

Visit Grote Eco page
The objectives of Grote Eco Project are to:

Provide major economic development for the Central West Precinct.
Provide a strategic plan for the Grote ECO Program that meets and compliments Grote Street Business Association's Business Plan.
Provide major levels of Triple Bottom Line Benefits to all participating businesses and the community of the precinct.
Make available a large range of environmental initiatives to all in the CentralWest Precinct.
Develop lasting partnerships with a range of Economic and Environmental agencies, consultants and leaders in the environmental field.
Implement and manage planned initiatives to progress community economic development.
The Central West Precinct to have a definite environmental position that will provide it with a marketing edge over similar precincts.
Develop an environmental awareness through education.
Provide environmental education and vocational guidance for businesses, residences, visitors and students in the Central West Precinct.

As well GSBA provided a mentoring and coaching business programs for its members through a partnership with the Centre for Innovation, Business and Manufacturing.

St Mary's School assisted GSBA in designing and painting decorative and colourful Christmas Banners for Grote Street.

In 2003 a Youth Program invited 2 school students on to the Executive to participate in discussion and provide a youth perspective. This continued resulting in reporting to Council by young people at Adelaide City Council meetings.

Grote Eco Project continued to build, implementing energy savings programs in to businesses, providing recycling programs for paper and cardboard and cartridges, and a baseline study of business energy use.

In 2003 GSBA won a Property Council Commendation Environmental Award.

GSBA was always actively contributing to consultations on the Upgrade of the Central West Precinct.

2004 saw many of the programs strengthen and mature with partnerships being formed through industry, government, youth and environmental organizations. The stability of GSBA was maintained by the very diverse high-level team on the Executive many of whom had been part of the inaugural committee.

Business networking lunches were held with high profile guests including government ministers and industry leaders.

A series Business English Education classes were held for improving business communication for business owners who have English as their 2nd language. GSBA also participated in Business Watch for crime prevention in the city.

In 2004-5 a partnership with Government and GSBA resulted in a Workforce Development Program to provide training and information on environmental and safety issues for the workplace, identifying and training a "Workforce Environment Officer" in over 100 businesses.

Over 30 businesses also participated in an energy audit of the central west.

In 2005 Tony Stacy was elected President. GSBA successfully completed the Workforce program and produced a very comprehensive Safety CD for business.

An environmental art project produced by GSBA in partnership with St Mary's School drew enormous interest.

A successful partnership with and support of Restless Dance Company was established. Realising the importance of the many specialist homewares and lifestyle retail outlets in its precinct GSBA has focused in recent years on building a strong brand and marketing focus. Recently a new look logo was launched alongside a concept for the whole Central West Precinct naming it Market Quarter and recognising the significance of Central Market as a major asset in the area.

Today there continues active working groups

Precinct Business Development
Business, Employee & Visitor Safety and Security
Grote Eco - Towards Sustainability Program
Precinct Marketing
City Urban Design

Local News

2010-08-13 - Announcing Brilliant Broadway charity concerts at Elder Hall
Concerts on Sat 20 and Sun 21 November 2010

Business Profile

Cr Stephen Yarwood
18 Grote St, Adelaide

Local Feature

Antique Market
30 years of Trading! Toys, out-out-print books, jewellery, china, militaria, vintage clothing and accessories.

Project Profile

Victoria Square Community Space Design
Collaborative Effort creates Vision for revitalised Victoria Square

Partner Profile

Other Precinct Associations
Precinct Associations in the CBD