SA Govt unveils land for retirement living and aged care

With the South Australian State election set down for 21 March, various promises are being made by each side of politics.

Premier Peter Malinauskas and Housing Minister Nick Champion announced future plans for the redevelopment of Adelaide University’s Magill Campus on Sunday (1 February).

Under the proposal, the main 11-hectare university campus will be redeveloped by Renewal SA as an aged care/retirement living facility. More than 60% of the site will be retained for sport and community use.

A three-hectare eastern parcel, a vacant lot, will be used for residential housing and aged care, with work set to begin in 2027.

Adelaide University will continue to lease the main site until the early 2030s, with any development not expected to start before 2033-34.

The South Australian Government’s land management agency Renewal SA had purchased the 15-hectare site for $64 million in 2023 as part of the deal that led to the merger of UniSA and the University of Adelaide to form Adelaide University last month.

However, Urban Development Institute SA Chief Executive Liam Golding criticised the State Government for “under-utilising” the site.

“The constrained housing outcomes proposed for the site mean fewer opportunities for key workers – including those employed in education, health, aged care and essential services to live close to their jobs,” he said.

The plans will now go to community consultation for eight weeks starting in April following the State election.