As at 29 October 2026, South Australia has six modular homes standing in Adelaide’s north that are built to move. Glam Adelaide reported on 24 September 2026 that Renewal SA’s Office for Regional Housing is running a $3.35m modular housing trial. Six two and three bedroom homes are on display at Edinburgh Parks until the end of 2026. They will then be relocated to regional towns short of worker housing, for nurses, teachers and police. The Flinders Ranges and Yorke Peninsula are being considered. For councils, employers and builders in those regions, the trial is a test of one question: can a home be shown in one place and lived in another?
Why a display first, then a move
A display lets councils, health services, schools and residents walk through a finished home before any regional lot is committed. It turns a drawing into something people can judge. The harder part is the second step. A home that will be lifted, trucked and set down again has to be engineered for two installs, not one. Lifting points, the frame, linings and wet areas all have to cope with the move.
We covered the wider tender in our article on the SA key worker prefab pilot and 120-home tender. This piece is about the display and relocation model itself.
Why structural steel suits relocation
A structural steel volumetric module carries its own frame from end to end. It is designed to be lifted from set points, so it can be craned onto a truck and off again without relying on the footings for strength. That makes a planned second move a design input from the start, rather than a problem after the fact. See our guide to modular, portable and transportable buildings for how these terms differ.
What EcoPrestige supplies
- Structural steel volumetric modules for one, two and three bedroom homes, built and inspected in an offsite factory.
- Lifting and transport engineering inputs for the project engineer.
- Footing interface details for the receiving site.
- A documentation pack for the accredited professional who certifies.
What does not fit
Relocation is not free of limits. Remote lots on unsealed roads may not take a wide load. Each new site needs its own footings, services and approval. A home designed for one wind or bushfire setting may need changes for another. We check the receiving town before the factory build, not after.
The approval path in South Australia
EcoPrestige coordinates the module design with your consultants; permit drawings are issued by the registered or licensed practitioner the state requires. In SA, an accredited professional certifies under the Planning, Development and Infrastructure Act. There is no designer or engineer registration category, and the energy assessment is independent of the design. A relocated home still needs approval at its new site. A detached home is typically Class 1a, confirmed by your building surveyor or certifier.
The programme
Modules are built in the factory while the receiving lot is surveyed, approved and prepared. Factory and site work run in parallel, so time on site is shorter. For a relocated home, the lot can be readied while the home is still on display. Our installation and crane guide sets out the site steps.
What to send us
- 1. The receiving town and lot, if known.
- 2. Whether the home will be displayed, used or moved first.
- 3. The number of bedrooms and occupants.
- 4. Road access from the nearest highway.
- 5. Wind and bushfire ratings for the receiving site.
SA modular display trial: questions
What is the Edinburgh Parks modular trial?
Glam Adelaide reported on 24 September 2026 that Renewal SA’s Office for Regional Housing is running a $3.35m trial of six two and three bedroom modular homes on display at Edinburgh Parks until the end of 2026.
Where will the trial homes go?
They will be relocated to regional towns short of worker housing. The Flinders Ranges and Yorke Peninsula are being considered.
Who are the homes for?
Nurses, teachers and police in regional South Australia.
Does a relocated home need a new approval?
Yes. Each receiving site needs its own approval, certified by an accredited professional. Confirm with your building surveyor or certifier.
How is pricing given?
Supply price quoted for your site, once we have the receiving lot and access route.
Related: our guide to modular construction in South Australia.
Planning worker homes for a regional SA town?
Send the site, the use and any drawings to prebuilt@ecoprestige.com.au or download our technical brochures.