Celebrated Adelaide architect and footballer Ian Hannaford has passed away last week at the age of 82. 

Hannaford leaves behind a significant legacy in both sport and the built environment. Hannaford designed Adelaide’s Rundle Mall in the 1970s, which saw a portion of Rundle Street closed off to vehicles. Hannaford additionally designed a number of homes and multi-residential complexes, hotel resorts and the Victor Richardson gates at the Adelaide Oval. 

The South Australian native is regarded as one of the Port Adelaide Power’s greatest ever players, winning three SANFL premierships with the Australian Rules club in 1958, 1962 and 1963. Hannaford was named in Adelaide newspaper The Advertiser as one of the club’s greatest players of its first 150 years. 

Hannaford retired from playing for Port Adelaide at the age of 24 to become an architect. The Victor Richardson gates at the redeveloped Adelaide Oval are still standing today.

“The Port Adelaide Football Club extends its heartfelt condolences to son Nicholas, daughter Rachel, grandchildren Darcy, Oliver and Jesse, stepchildren Sam, Digby and Fiona and the entire Hannaford family during this time,” says Port Adelaide Chief Executive Officer Matthew Richardson.

“Ian was a remarkable person. He had equal doses of brilliance both on and off the field. On the field, he was a powerful, athletic forward that burst onto the scene as an 18-year old and went on to win three premierships at Port Adelaide and represent South Australia 17 times by the time he retired at the age of 24. An incredible achievement for someone so young, especially in that era of football.

“Ian played a pivotal role in the Port Adelaide side through the golden era of the late 1950s and early 1960s that has created such a great legacy for our club today.

“Upon his early retirement, Ian focussed on his career becoming one of the preeminent architects in South Australia designing a number of landmarks around Adelaide, most notably the Victor Richardson gates at Adelaide Oval.

“Despite his success, Ian was humble and understated in his demeanour, articulate and passionate.”