Thousands rally to Save the Cranker before key vote

MEDIA RELEASE: Sunday 28 April 2024

ADELAIDE – Over 3000 turned out in Adelaide today at a rally in support of saving the Crown & Anchor Hotel, popularly known as ‘the Cranker’. The hotel is at risk of being replaced by a 19-story tower, leaving only the heritage-listed facade behind. The rally comes in the lead up to a vote in South Australian parliament on a motion that would help save the hotel.

“We’re calling on all members of the Legislative Council to vote in favour of Rob Simms’ motion this Wednesday,” said Evan Morony, a volunteer and spokesperson for Save the Cranker.

“The motion is an opportunity for all sides of politics to show their commitment to community and cultural preservation. The motion not only seeks to protect the Cranker, but also calls for reform to ensure that social and cultural values are considered in our planning laws.”

The rally started at the Crown and Anchor Hotel, before marching to Parliament House, led by a truck with a sound system. After arriving at Parliament, the all female three piece band Pelvis performed from the truck, as a symbol of the Cranker’s importance to local music. Many attendees also brought their instruments to the rally and marched with them.

The rally included speeches from across the political spectrum, including Lord Mayor Jane Lomax-Smith, Rob Simms from The Greens, and Michelle Lensink from the Liberals. Labor declined to send a speaker to the event, but did send a written statement.

The campaign to Save the Cranker has gone from strength-to-strength. In under a month, it has gained a social media following of thousands, a Facebook group with almost 8,000 supporters of the campaign, and a petition with over 21,000 signatories.

“The Cranker has been a beacon of Adelaide’s cultural heritage for over 171 years. It’s older than the University of Adelaide and UniSA, the Adelaide Town Hall, and Old Parliament House,” added Patrick Maher, a volunteer and spokesperson for Save the Cranker.

“Adelaide is still the only Australian city to be inducted as a UNESCO City of Music. That is thanks to vibrant local music venues like the Crown and Anchor. This development proposal not only threatens the Cranker, it threatens our UNESCO status.”

“Each generation has defining decisions to make when it comes to iconic places in our city. We lost the Jubilee Exhibition Building, we razed the stunning Grand Central Hotel for a carpark, but we saved Edmund Wright House. Now it’s time to save the Cranker.”

First published by Save The Cranker

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Media contacts: Patrick Maher – 0439 298 294 Nazz Oldham – 0401 165 119
Photos: Michael Hunter