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Tonsley

The Tonsley redevelopment is purposely designed to attract investment and create a thriving jobs and education precinct that includes residential and community living.

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About TonsleySnapshotLocation factsProject progressProject targetsSustainabilityPartners + investorsLatest news
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About Tonsley

Tonsley brings together leading-edge research and education institutions, established businesses and start-ups, business incubators and accelerators, plus government and the wider community to connect and collaborate in Australia's first innovation district.

Renewal SA is managing the physical delivery of the Tonsley project, including infrastructure works such as roads, services, public realm and the creation of high-value manufacturing and commercial allotments for sale to the private market.

The mixed-use district will support the transformation of South Australia’s manufacturing industry by providing a high quality, people-focused and knowledge-driven environment.

High-value manufacturing industries have been specifically considered in the planning of Tonsley.

These include:

  • health, medical devices and assistive technologies
  • clean tech and renewable energy
  • software and simulation
  • mining and energy services.

Snapshot

*upon completion of the project

Snapshot

  • Site size

    61 hectares

  • Worker population

    6,300 FTE*

  • Residential population

    1,200 approx*

  • Student population

    8,500 per year*

  • Council

    Marion

  • Distance from the CBD

    10 kilometres

  • Renewal SA investment

    $253 million*

  • Private sector investment

    $1 billion*

  • Project commenced

    2012

  • Forecast completion

    2027

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More information

Tonsley provides a high quality, people‑focused and knowledge‑driven environment

Location facts

Tonsley is located on the site of the former Mitsubishi Motors plant on South Road, Tonsley.

Map

Distances

  • Flinders Medical Centre

    2.0 kilometres

  • Flinders University, Bedford Park

    2.5 kilometres

  • CBD

    10 kilometres

  • Airport

    12 kilometres

Access Options

Features / Options

Allotment Sizes

  • Main Assembly Building leases

    30 to 2,000 square metres

  • Freehold land allotments

    1,000 to 10,000 square metres

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Project progress

Since construction began in 2012, Tonsley has been progressing well as a vibrant, dynamic community of like-minded businesses that will shape a knowledge-based industrial future together.

Stage 1 civil construction was completed in January 2014. Stage 2 civil construction including the ring road and South Road entrance was completed in February 2015.

TAFE SA‘s Sustainable Industries Education Centre (SIEC) was opened on 28 January 2014 with over 800 students per day on campus.

Re-roofing of five hectares of the Main Assembly Building (MAB) was completed in June 2014.

Tonsley was awarded a 6 Star Green Star accreditation by the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) in July 2014.

Construction on the Plaza Urban Forest was finished in November 2014, with the Central Forest completed in February 2015.

The retail precinct and Town Square was completed and Three Little Pods Café and Sakura Sushi opened on 16 February 2015.

Flinders University‘s $120 million Computer Science, Engineering and Mathematics School opened in February 2015.

Construction was completed on the Siemens Turbomachinery Workshop facility in April 2015.

The Premier of South Australia officially opened the $32 million State Drill Core Reference Library on 19 February 2016.

Major works on the $620 million Darlington Upgrade Project commenced April 2016, to deliver a non-stop connection between Tonsley and the Southern Expressway.

The suburb of Tonsley is officially created in early 2017 in recognition of its long and proud history of agriculture, manufacturing and innovation.

Tonsley is one of the first districts to have access to GigCity, which provides tenants with affordable internet up to 100 times faster than the national average.

In March 2017, there were over 1,000 people employed at Tonsley – more than when Mitsubishi formally announced its closure of manufacturing operations at the site in 2016.

New tenancies have been completed in the Main Assembly Building (MAB), including premises for industrial automation specialist SAGE Automation, as well as Catalyst Cloud Solutions, Phoenix Contact, A220 and Squash SA.

The MAB has demonstrated it has an important civic role to play for the southern suburbs by hosting several large scale community events. Between October 2016 and October 2017, the Maker Faire, Science Alive, the New Venture Institute’s Icebreaker16 and Hybrid World Adelaide, as well as a range of other events attracted a combined attendance of over 20,000 visitors to Tonsley.

Progress 2018

Tonsley Innovation District has achieved a great deal over the last 12 months: progressive businesses and hundreds of highly-skilled people have joined our growing community, a range of exciting innovative projects got underway and the Tonsley name traveled around the world.

The following infographics demonstrate just how much Tonsley has grown over 2017–2018.

Project targets

The next series of targets for Tonsley are:

Main Assembly Building tenants

More tenancies to be leased and constructed in the MAB. At October 2017, approximately 40 per cent is leased with another 20% in formal negotiations with potential tenants.

Retail

A new retail development on the western side of Tonsley.

Land sales and residential construction

The sale of freehold land around the site.

Residential precinct construction is targeted to commence early 2018, which will see around 850 dwellings with 1,200 residents delivered over seven years.

Sustainability

Tonsley’s 6 Star Green Star accreditation is an unprecedented milestone for the South Australian building industry.

The internationally recognised certification, awarded by the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA), represents the highest level of leadership and innovation in sustainable design and building practices.

Tonsley is one of Australia’s only urban renewal development to achieve this level of certification and is a testament to the world-class design principles which have guided the redevelopment of the former Mitsubishi site.

Partners + investors

TAFE SA, Flinders University, Siemens, Signostics, and ZEN Energy are a few of our industry partners and investors.

Partners + investors

Latest news

Discover STEM careers of the future at Tonsley

22 September 2020 in Tonsley, Works Program, STEM Works at Tonsley

Discover the heart of innovation and the STEM careers of the future at Tonsley Innovation District with free school tours in Term 4 (November 2020).

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Works Program helps George find a future in construction

11 August 2020 in Bowden, Tonsley, Works Program news

George Flomo’s childhood dream of working in a bank never came true—and he couldn’t be more delighted. Thanks to Renewal SA’s Works Program and the support of local industry, he’s discovered where his true passion lies—working with his hands in the building industry.

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Give your career a fresh lick of paint

4 August 2020 in Tonsley, Works Program, Training + employment pathways

TAFE SA, in association with the Department for Innovation and Skills, is looking for motivated and committed people from all over Adelaide to start a career as a painter and decorator for the Painting and Decorating Pre-apprenticeship program. Registrations close on 8 September 2020.

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