Building the future: How Hickinbotham is shaping the way South Australians live
As the state faces mounting pressure for faster, more affordable housing supply, one long-standing South Australian family business is positioning itself as a key player in delivering solutions that can keep pace with demand.
Hickinbotham Group has grown into South Australia’s largest home builder and land developer. More than 120,000 South Australians now live in one of more than 50,000 Hickinbotham homes across the state, and the company is behind one in every four new homes across greater Adelaide, establishing more than 60 community estates since its beginnings in the 1950s.
More than 4100 South Australians are employed through its direct and indirect operations, and the company currently has more than $2 billion in developments underway. But behind the numbers is a broader ethos about the role local industry can play in shaping how and where South Australians live.
“We have always believed in the power of home ownership to improve lives,” CEO Michael Hickinbotham says. “We don’t just build housing; we create thriving communities where families can enjoy the lifestyle they want to live.”
It’s a philosophy visible in the way the group approaches its master-planned communities – townships designed with schools, playgrounds, green space and essential services established from the beginning.
“Central to this lifestyle is providing high-quality amenities including state-of-the-art schools and easy access to retail and medical facilities, as well as plenty of green space and recreational areas where children can play and neighbours become friends,” Hickinbotham says.
At Roseworthy, Hickinbotham is progressing a $504 million development comprising the Evergreen and Flourish estates, which will deliver more than 750 homes on larger allotments. More than 150 homes are already built or under construction. The precinct is expected to create the equivalent of 3200 full-time jobs during the build and contribute $531 million to the state’s economy.
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Its appeal, the company says, lies in the combination of space and proximity. “Home buyers at Evergreen and Flourish are responding positively to our large block sizes and green open spaces, with everything on their doorstep including a world-class university and exceptional schools, new retail village, historic Gawler just down the road, the iconic Barossa Valley wineries and restaurants a short drive away, and the Northern Expressway keeping the city within easy reach,” Hickinbotham says.
Further north, the company is undertaking one of the largest residential projects in the state at Two Wells. The Liberty and Eden estates will eventually deliver more than 3000 homes in a $1.2 billion master-planned community for around 10,880 people. More than 600 homes have already been completed, with a small number of move-in-ready homes currently available.
“A unique public-private partnership between Adelaide Plains Council and the Hickinbotham Group has been the driving force for growth at Two Wells, which is now one of Adelaide’s youngest, most affordable and fastest growing urban regions,” Hickinbotham says. “In recent years, Two Wells has grown by almost 30 per cent. We’ve made a long-term commitment to, and investment in, creating a community that is not just liveable, but truly enjoyable.”
Growth areas outside Adelaide are also seeing renewed momentum. In Strathalbyn, Aurora – Hickinbotham’s $180 million land development – will accommodate more than 300 families as the region prepares for a forecast population increase of around 1800 people over the next decade.
“We are thrilled to deliver this major residential precinct for the Alexandrina community,” Hickinbotham says. “Sixty-five families have already moved into Aurora with strong sales and interest from local residents as well as home buyers seeking a country living alternative to nearby Mt Barker.”
Hickinbotham’s Sunset is a $267 million land development at Port Noarlunga South. 644 homes will be built over an eight-year period on an area of 42ha. The development will provide more than 1600 jobs during construction.
The company has also partnered with Catholic Education South Australia to deliver a new $30 million school as part of St Francis de Sales College, within the Aurora estate at Strathalbyn. This builds on previous collaborations including Xavier College Two Wells, an R-12 Catholic school within Liberty estate.
Alongside housing supply, the group continues to invest in community spaces – an area it sees as critical to long-term liveability. Hickinbotham has committed more than $6 million to new playgrounds at Roseworthy and Port Noarlunga South, including extensive recreation areas featuring flying foxes, courts, kickabout space and shelters. A new $2 million playground has recently opened at Aurora, and Two Wells is also home to the 4500sqm Tails and Trails Dog Park, designed with dedicated zones for dogs of different sizes.
In the face of continued demand, the company is also responding with new ways to streamline the building process. Its latest offering condenses this process into four-steps, designed to help buyers avoid decision fatigue while still accessing quality inclusions.
“In an easy, four-step process, customers choose from a leading architect designed floorplan,” Hickinbotham says. “They then select a façade from a range of options, a scheme by our renowned interior designers and stylists and finally they choose inclusions from two levels . We have a genuine, fixed price offering that delivers faster build times.”
Hickinbotham’s long-running partnership with award-winning architect Max Pritchard underpins much of this work. Known for projects including the rebuild of Southern Ocean Lodge, Pritchard has collaborated with the company since 2007, contributing to the Affordable Architect Series and, more recently, the Love Life collection – homes with high-end features such as 2.7m ceilings, designer kitchen, double vanities, air-conditioning, and a 6.6-kilowatt solar system built in as standard. The partnership has also produced an exclusive collection of luxury homes at Riverside in Allenby Gardens, overlooking the River Torrens and connected to the Linear Park.
“Hickinbotham is a proud South Australian business with a generational heritage built over 70 years,” Hickinbotham says. “From our earliest days, we knew that to build the best homes, you have to work with the best people, many of whom have worked with us for over two generations, and some for three. We have stood the test of time, giving our customers peace of mind as they make one of the biggest decisions of their lives.”
“Our strength and continuing commitment to adopting cutting-edge innovation means we can build more communities at scale. Ultimately, we are driven by our purpose of improving lives, opening the door to home ownership to more South Australians for generations to come.”
To learn more about Hickinbotham’s easy four-step process to creating your home, visit hickinbotham.com.au/why-choose-hickinbotham/
