Briefcase: Business snippets from a major Barossa development to a million-dollar US Navy order
In this week’s Briefcase, an Adelaide company has secured AI development funding, and SA small businesses have won big at a national awards ceremony. See the full list of winners.
- Multi-million-dollar Barossa hotel gets tick of approval
- AML3D secures US Navy order
- Adelaide AI company to develop space radar systems
- SA winners at national small business awards
- Local brand launches doughnut-flavoured whiskey
- Grazing asset hits market in state’s upper south-east
- State housing supply outgrows the nation
- Hotel Panorama officially opens
Multi-million-dollar Barossa hotel gets tick of approval
The 150-room InterContinental Barossa Resort and Spa has received official planning approval for development in Williamstown.
The six-storey InterContinental resort will be developed by Strategic Alliance and Commercial Pty Ltd and feature a winery, cellar door, vineyard, wellness spa and other recreational facilities.
Once in operation, the five-star hotel is expected to generate up to $100 million in annual economic benefits for the Barossa region.
The luxury resort is expected to cost $100 million and is forecast to open its doors in 2028.
It follows significant community consultation, which raised traffic congestion, bushfire risk, and infrastructure impacts as potential issues, which the state government said had all been addressed.
“This development is a vote of confidence in South Australia and the economic benefits will flow through the Barossa for generations to come,” Planning Minister Nick Champion said.
AML3D secures US Navy order
AML3D Limited has completed an order for delivery of its first portable metal 3D printing system to the US Navy’s Additive Manufacturing Centre of Excellence.
The portable ARCEMY system was ordered by Austal USA, with the system to be mounted in a 20-foot shipping container to allow for fast and flexible deployment.
It will be used to accelerate technological development and component manufacturing at Danville, Virginia’s naval training centre.
AML3D is expected to receive $1.2 million for the order and add to the existing fleet of two custom large-scale ARCEMY® X systems.
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“The success of this first portable, containerised system demonstrates how AML3D can flex its technology to meet multiple US military and industrial manufacturing use cases,” AML3D CEO Sean Ebert said.
Adelaide AI company to develop space radar systems
The state government has announced it would support a major Adelaide AI company to develop the next generation of space radar systems to assist in emergency situations.
AICRAFT is developing and designing advanced electronics systems that use a low-power design to process extremely large amounts of data to be sent to small satellites for fast processing in space.
The technology will be useful in agriculture, iceberg detection, mapping flood extents, tracking vessels, monitoring surface deformation and surveying infrastructure for damage.
AICRAFT will receive government funding through the Manufacturing Growth Accelerator program, which has provided more than $1.2 million in funding to 18 Accelerator Projects to date.
“Supporting South Australian businesses to explore technologies, particularly in growth industries such as space and defence, is critical for the state’s manufacturing future,” Minister for State Development Chris Picton said.
SA winners at national small business awards
SA winners have been announced at the 2026 Australian Small Business Champion Awards.
More than 8,500 small business owners registered for this year’s 28th annual ceremony, which highlights top performers across retail, hospitality, services and manufacturing industries.
1585 finalists were selected across the 109 categories, with 11 SA businesses taking home the top prize in their respective categories.
“I’m incredibly proud of how this program has grown and the opportunities it creates for deserving small business owners. These individuals work tirelessly to support their communities, motivate others to pursue success, and inspire us all through their dedication and resilience,” Australian Small Business Champion Awards founder Steve Loe said.
SA Winners
Arts, Crafts and Gifts – Yarn Trader
Bakery – Banana Boogie Bakery
Beauty and Lifestyle Product – Zhav International
Disability Support Services – Small – Communication eXtra
Fresh Food – Hahndorf Market
Gym – Powerhouse Fitness Gym
Health Food Business – House of Health Collective
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Information Technology – Pit Stop Technologies
Jeweller – Bell and Brunt Jewellers
Landscaper – Daldry Landscape Maintenance
Small Business Champion Entrepreneur (Over 30 years) – Your Local Tradesman
Local brand launches doughnut-flavoured whiskey
Real McCoy Whiskey has announced the release of a new Cinnamon Doughnut Flavoured Whiskey Liqueur.
This is not the first time the brand has experimented with flavour combinations, and the success of their Salted Caramel and Buttered Popcorn flavours was behind this new creation.
Created with a blend of American whiskey and bourbon, the brand describes its product as “a celebration of indulgence”.
“There’s a clear shift towards flavour-led drinking – people want something that tastes great, but also fits different moments,” VOK Beverages brand manager Johann Einarson said.
Grazing asset hits market in state’s upper south-east
A well-established 1210-hectare mixed grazing and fodder production asset near Meningie East has been brought to market.
Barn Hill has 760 hectares of arable land, with the landscape supporting a range of mixed-farming enterprises including cattle breeding, sheep production and integrated fodder or forage cropping.
The 565 Gordon Road property is valued around the mid $6 million range as significant capital investment has been made on fencing, cattle handling facilities, sheds, and water infrastructure.
“Barn Hill is a genuine, ready-to-run grazing enterprise with scale, solid infrastructure and secure water, all of which are becoming increasingly difficult to secure in this region,” Colliers’ associate director of agribusiness Nick Goode said.
State housing supply outgrows the nation
South Australia is outperforming every other state and territory in housing growth, according to the State of the Housing System 2026 report.
SA saw a 13.2 per cent increase in yearly dwelling completions last year, while other states, including Victoria, saw a decrease of 10.6 per cent over the same period.
Nick Champion, the Minister for Housing and Urban Development, said the report showed SA was “leading the country when it comes to getting homes built”.
“We have a plan to unlock more land for housing, invest in more public housing, and train more tradies, so that the dream of home ownership becomes a reality for even more South Australians.”
Hotel Panorama officially opens
Hurley Hotel Group has officially opened its $60 million Hotel Panorama, marking the group’s largest investment in business history.
The five-storey development is expected to create more than 150 hospitality and tourism roles across food and beverage, accommodation, gaming, events and management.
Hotel Panorama has a casual café bar and restaurant, a sports bar and an outdoor beer garden with a seven-metre screen to host major sporting events.
“This project is about more than just a new hotel, it’s about creating jobs, supporting the local economy and delivering a venue that brings people together,” Hurley Hotel Group publican Peter hurley said.
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