Victor Harbor Ambulance Station

Responding to the coastal character, the new Victor Harbor Ambulance Station draws on the town’s seaside identity expressed as a composition of simple, confident forms crafted from durable, high-quality materials. A restrained palette of light greys and whites reinforces this coastal sensibility, enlivened through a considered layering of textures including solid brickwork, smooth angled panels, sculpted sun shading and profiled steel cladding.

A deliberate contrast is introduced at the main entry, where a rich rust-red cladding defines the arrival experience and continues internally through to the rear of the building. Externally, this element complements the adjacent fencing, which incorporates an Indigenous pattern of local significance and provides screening to the northern edge of the site. A sheltered courtyard offers staff a place of respite, overlooking landscaped grounds and the surrounding hills

Located on a greenfield site along Adelaide Road, the station is positioned between commercial developments, with residential properties to the rear and opposite. A newly formed access road improves site legibility and ensures separation from neighbouring residential and retail uses, supporting safe and efficient ambulance operations.

Developed in close alignment with SA Health and SA Ambulance Service requirements, the facility accommodates up to three operational crews and provides garaging for six emergency vehicles. The layout responds to carefully considered adjacency requirements, prioritising rapid access to vehicles and streamlined operational workflows, while also providing staff and visitor parking within the site.

The project supports key objectives of both the SA Health Strategic Plan and the SAAS Strategic Plan, including the delivery of patient-centred emergency care and strong integration with the broader health system.

Sustainability is embedded in the design, with the building achieving a 5-star rating under SA Health’s in-house assessment tool. Orientation and shading optimise winter solar gain while limiting summer heat load.

Delivered through a collaborative design and construction process, the Victor Harbor Ambulance Station provides a resilient, efficient, and contextually responsive facility for the community it serves.