South Australia’s famous Collingrove Hillclimb is set for a major makeover after nearly 75 years under the ownership of the Sporting Car Club of SA (SCCSA).
The new plans for the track, located in the Barossa Valley, were revealed as part of a major rebrand for the club, which is the second oldest continually running car club in the world, having operated since 1934.
Alongside a new visual identity and a refresh of its other events and offerings, SCCSA is now positioning Collingrove as its own brand for the first time since 1952, when the club took ownership of the land.
The venue will be undergoing extensive redevelopment with the aim of repositioning it as a multi-purpose greenfield venue, capable of hosting festivals, trade exhibitions, pop-up events, and other interactive activations.
While the Collingrove Hillclimb track itself has already been resurfaced and extended from 750 metres to now over one kilometre, a new clubhouse is also planned for the 170-acre site.
Already, a $100,000 South Australian Government grant has been put towards the project.
“The rebrand goes further than just the logo,” explains Chris Frith, president of the Sporting Car Club of SA.
“This strategic plan delivers to the club more revenue streams, but it also delivers our current and future members even more reasons to be part of our club.”
To support Collingrove’s new structure and to support the club’s plans, a new arm of the club has been established to represent the commercial interests of its sprawling network of events and assets.
“‘The Adelaide Events Co.’ has been established to more formally manage the club’s sponsorships and venues,” Mr Frith adds.
“It will provide partners with a streamlined way to access our events and our growing audiences and venues.”
In addition to enhancing this historic Australian motorsport venue, the new plans for Collingrove only add to the growth of South Australia’s major events and regional tourism economy.
Recently, it was announced by the South Australian Government that for the year ending March 2026, total visitor expenditure in the state, combining international and domestic travellers, amounted to $11.5 billion, a five percent increase over the previous year-to-date.
For the Barossa Valley in particular, events such as the AFL’s Gather Round have already demonstrated a major economic impact.
In 2025, it generated almost $5 million in direct expenditure in the Barossa region alone, meaning a revamped Collingrove as an events hub near the famous winemaking area could offer a huge boost to the local economy.
