Premier Peter Malinauskas said on Friday morning that the issue concerning the landmark East End live music venue was “a difficult one”.

“But that doesn’t mean that as a keen supporter of making sure our city is vibrant, and has a soul… and that culture has a strong presence, that’s not to say I’m not concerned about it,” he told ABC Radio Adelaide.

“This is difficult though because… in terms of a government intervention, we are in a difficult spot. The Crown and Anchor hotel is already locally heritage-listed, which means that the building itself has a range of protections around it so that it is preserved. What’s not preserved and where there is no government authority, of course, is the activity that occurs within the building itself.

“It’s a difficult public policy area because it’s highly unorthodox, to say the least, for government to dictate to a building owner what can happen in it. The building is owned by a landlord who leases it to the tenants of the Crown and Anchor, and what they do with it is up to them.

“But of course, it is within the rights of the landlord to… turn it into something else. Now, that’s not to say we’re not concerned about it. It’s not to say that we’re not examining what we can do to preserve live music in the state, because that’s something my government is heavily, heavily invested in.”

Asked if he had investigated whether he could step in as Premier on the issue, Malinauskas said: “Well, it’s it’s fair to say that I’ve made active inquiries of the department and the minister just to understand the issue, and what the consequences would be of any potential policy intervention.

“And I’ve got to say that we’ve got to think this through very carefully, because we do need more student accommodation within the CBD – that is fundamentally in the interest of the state.

“And I would be very concerned about a rash policy action that would have completely undo investment incentive.”

A developer’s heritage assessment found that destroying the Crown & Anchor and leaving just the facade for a 19-story apartment tower would not “dominate, encroach on or unduly impact” upon the local heritage site. Image: Brown Falconer/Plan SA

A growing protest against plans to demolish the local heritage-listed pub for a 19-storey student housing block will culminate in a rally from the hotel to Parliament on Sunday.

Lord Mayor Jane Lomax-Smith has blasted Adelaide’s development trend of “hideous facadism” amid plans to retain only two walls as part of local heritage protection, while moves to destroy a thriving live music venue has prompted debate about planning laws, the value of cultural heritage and Adelaide’s commitment to its UNESCO City of Music status.

Greens MLC Robert Simms has also introduced a motion to Parliament calling on the state government to protect the historic venue, while Labor’s Adelaide MP Lucy Hood is giving residents advice on how to make public submissions to the State Commission Assessment Panel which will rule on the application later this year.

The Save The Cranker campaign is writing to Upper House MPs asking them to back the Greens’ motion, saying it was focused on “ensuring that our state’s planning system and heritage laws align with our community’s expectations to better incorporate cultural heritage considerations”.

“The Crown and Anchor has been a cornerstone of Adelaide’s cultural landscape,” one letter reads.

“It was established before both the University of Adelaide and University of South Australia, and the Adelaide Town Hall. It is even older than Old Parliament House. The Cranker is more than just a live music venue; it is a living archive of our city’s vibrant arts scene and a continuously operating public house.

“We understand the importance of development but advocate for a balanced approach that does not sacrifice our cultural landmarks or the living social fabric of our city.

The Crown & Anchor hotel would be destroyed and only the facade left under plans for a 19-storey apartment building. Image: Brown Falconer/PlanSA

“Repurposing the shell of the Crown and Anchor into a laundry and waste room for a student accommodation building not only reflects the real-world loss of the built historical value, but crucially ignores the student community’s needs and desires for a vibrant city lifestyle.

“The Crown and Anchor is a vibrant hub for the local community. Not just as a live performance venue with unwavering support of both aspiring and accomplished musicians, but as a public house in the true sense of the term.

“What we are asking for is simply that you act on this immediately to inhibit a current development proposal that is not in line with community expectations. Not taking action now will result in an irreversible outcome… Your support can help ensure that Adelaide remains a city that values its history and culture as much as its future development.”

A petition to save the Crown & Anchor has now passed 21,000 signatures.