What happens when you invest in local ideas?
Since 2010, Renew Adelaide has believed that cities come alive through people, through creativity, risk-taking, and the small businesses and ideas that give a place its personality. What started as a way to temporarily activate vacant spaces has grown into something much bigger: helping to shape the feeling and identity of Adelaide.
To better understand that impact, we commissioned Adelaide University to independently assess Renew Adelaide’s contribution between FY2024 and FY2026.
Over the past three years, Renew Adelaide has generated $5.6 million in economic impact while delivering a 13.7:1 return on investment, meaning every $1 invested in Renew Adelaide returned $13.70 to South Australia’s economy. This demonstrates a return on investment that is 3.5 times that of our 2018 Economic Impact Report (Deloitte, 2018).
In FY2026, Renew Adelaide supported 21 new businesses to launch in Adelaide’s CBD, helping to create 147 jobs and further support an additional 432. Plus, 80% of those businesses have already transitioned into commercial, rent-paying tenancies, proving that temporary opportunities can and do create lasting businesses.
Since 2010, Renew Adelaide has supported 340 businesses to launch in South Australia. Together with our partners, property owners and supporters, we’ve transformed vacant shopfronts into thriving businesses, strengthened precincts and helped create a more vibrant city.
But while these numbers are significant, they only tell part of the story. Every activated space represents someone who decided to back themselves, build something meaningful and contribute to Adelaide’s culture and character.
You can feel that impact in so many ways: browsing the beautifully curated mid-century pieces at House Warmers, throwing clay at Fauna Studio, discovering independent stories at Pink Shorts Press, or ending the day with a wine at Longplay Bistro. These spaces do more than fill vacancies, they give people reasons to stay in the city a little longer, and to keep coming back.
The report also reinforces something we’ve seen firsthand for years: Renew Adelaide is much more than a vacant space activation program. It’s a pathway for entrepreneurs, a catalyst for economic growth and an investment in the future of our city.
With more than 1,600 expressions of interest from aspiring businesses, the demand for Renew Adelaide has never been stronger.
Thank you to every property owner, partner, supporter, funder and entrepreneur who has been part of this journey, particularly the Adelaide Economic Development Agency and the City of Adelaide, who have invested in the success of our city through our program.
This report captures the measurable outcomes of Renew Adelaide’s work, but it also reflects something less tangible: the creativity, resilience, and ambition of the people shaping our city. We’re incredibly proud to share their stories, and their impact, with you.