Bowden

Just 2.5 kilometres from the Adelaide CBD on the former Clipsal and Origin Gasworks sites, Bowden is alive with contemporary architecture, expansive green spaces and a rich mix of housing options. It’s a vibrant, walkable neighbourhood built around connection, sustainability, and liveability.

Spanning 16.3 hectares, Bowden is designed for life on foot or by bike, with shared streets and seamless access to the city and surrounding areas via public transport, walking paths and bike trails.

Sustainability is at the forefront of Bowden. It was one of the first communities in Australia to achieve a 6 Star Green Star Communities rating, with every building independently certified to a minimum 5 Star Green Star rating by the Green Building Council of Australia.

Now in its final stages, Bowden continues to grow.

Several new developments are underway, bringing hundreds of new homes and even more amenities to support a thriving local community.

Bowden reflects Renewal SA’s commitment to demonstrating a new urban form - one that offers diverse housing choices for people of all incomes and aspirations. It demonstrates how people-centred design can create places where residents are inspired to live, work, and play.

Since its launch in 2008, Bowden has evolved into a multi-award-winning development, setting new benchmarks for urban design that prioritises community, sustainability and innovation.

The project showcases the power of collaboration between the public and private sectors - delivering not only a vibrant, liveable neighbourhood but also strong commercial outcomes for investors.

Bowden continues to adapt to changing market needs, introducing innovative housing options such as Nightingale Housing’s sustainably driven, simple and affordable living model to South Australia for the first time.

Located in the northwest of the Bowden development, across Drayton Street, the former Brompton Gasworks site forms part of the original Bowden footprint. It is now in its final stages of preparation for redevelopment by MAB Corporation.

Renewal SA has long envisioned this site as a vibrant, healthy and active extension of the Bowden precinct, transforming a once-industrial area into a thriving urban community.

Following a transparent and competitive public tender process, the 5.81-hectare site was sold to MAB Corporation in 2021.

Register at MAB’s The Gasworks Brompton website to stay informed about progress at The Gasworks and upcoming sales, set to commence in 2025.

Kaurna culture is proudly celebrated throughout Bowden’s streets and reserves, thanks to a close collaboration between Renewal SA and Kaurna elders from the Kaurna Nation Cultural Heritage Association. This includes the creation of an Indigenous native food garden within the Wardli-ana Tapa Reserve, honouring traditional knowledge and connection to Country.

Bowden’s industrial past is also thoughtfully preserved. Historic warehouses have been adaptively reused to create Plant 3 and Plant 4, now vibrant retail and event hubs that sit at the heart of community life.

The former Brompton Gasworks site has been remediated by MAB Corporation, making it safe for both current residents and future generations. Key heritage structures such as the Chief Street Wall and the Retort Houses will be protected and reimagined as part of a dedicated heritage quarter. This space will blend retail, commercial, and residential offerings, continuing the legacy of the site while shaping its future under MAB Corporation’s vision.

Consistent and meaningful engagement with stakeholders and the local community has been a cornerstone of the Bowden project from the very beginning.

This commitment to collaboration continues, ensuring that community feedback remains central to the project’s evolution.

MAB Corporation is equally dedicated to ongoing engagement and keeping the community informed, and involved, throughout every phase of the Brompton Gasworks redevelopment.