Community engagement on the Magill project will begin on Saturday 9 November with in-person and online engagement opportunities. This will be the first opportunity for the community to have their say with Renewal SA and its consultants on the future of the Magill University Campus site.

For the November community engagement process, the community will be asked to share their connection to and aspirations for the site and provide feedback on the overall high-level vision, key attributes, features and opportunities. This includes open space and the environment, the mix of housing types, traffic solutions and the potential future uses of the historic Murray House.

Feedback from this engagement will help guide the master planning process and the preparation of a draft structure plan which will be the topic of further community engagement planned in early-mid 2025.

During these sessions, community concerns, particularly with regard to preservation of the local environment, Third Creek and the tree canopy, traffic, and the future of Murray House will be front of mind.

Earlier this year, Renewal SA announced it had appointed leading South Australian integrated design firm Oxigen to create a bold, new, sustainable vision for the future development of the 14.62-hectare site.

“Whilst it is important that the future of the Magill Campus caters for a variety of housing types to support the local and broader Adelaide housing market, it is equally important that the development is undertaken sensitively with respect to its environment and surroundings,” said Shane Wingard, Executive Director, Property and Major Projects at Renewal SA.

“The Magill Campus is blessed with a wonderful tree canopy and heritage building in Murray House, which will serve as a terrific backdrop for a residential development nestled in a green and high amenity environment.”

Renewal SA has also enlisted South Australian architects Grieve Gillett to investigate a range of community-friendly options for the adaptive reuse of the Murray House and the community will be asked for its input and ideas for its future use.

Murray House is a landmark building which holds pride of place in the community, representing the Murray family, who provided a significant and enduring contribution to the Magill district.

Murray House was the residence of leading South Australian pastoralist AB Murray and then his son GJR Murray, the first colonial born Judge and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of South Australia, and Lieutenant Governor of South Australia and Chancellor of the University of Adelaide. The building was built in 1884 and extended in 1910.

The Magill site was transferred to Renewal SA in late 2023, after the state government bought the entire campus, as part of the university merger between The University of Adelaide and UniSA.

UniSA has a lease for up to 10 years on the main campus site, west of St Bernards Road, before transitioning out of the area. A second 3-hectare parcel of land, east of St Bernards Road has been leased back to the university for the next two to three years. It is not envisaged that any development will occur ahead of the current leases held by the university expiring or the university vacating.

Community drop-in sessions will be held at the University of South Australia Magill University Campus in the Student Lounge Area on the following dates:

• Saturday 9^th November 2024 – 11.00am to 2pm.
• Tuesday 12^th November 2024 – 4pm to 7pm

Online engagement will reflect the information presented at the drop-in sessions and invite comments and feedback to be submitted from 9 November – 1 December 2024.

For more information about the Magill project and to access the online engagement, visit the Magill project page.