Artist’s impression of the proposed UNSW Canberra City campus.
The University of New South Wales (UNSW) Canberra is establishing a world-class research, education and innovation campus in the south-east of Canberra’s City Centre.
Delivered in partnership with the ACT Government , UNSW Canberra City will be delivered in four stages in accordance with the UNSW Canberra City Campus Master Plan.
The new campus on Constitution Avenue will redefine the cityscape and contribute significantly to Canberra’s economic and cultural growth.
The new campus will feature modern education and research facilities, support industry collaboration, and provide amenities for the campus population, such as parking, student accommodation, student services and retail.
UNSW Canberra City will facilitate innovation and growth in the defence and cyber security industries, building on Canberra’s strengths in these fields. The new campus will also contribute to the reimagining of the City Centre’s south-eastern corner through the co-location of education, recreation and tourism uses.
The UNSW Canberra City Campus will deliver high-quality, functional spaces for research, learning and industry collaboration.
This will help grow our City Centre’s reputation for world-class education, innovation and industry engagement.
The ACT Government’s investment in the UNSW Canberra City includes:
UNSW’s Master Plan outlines four stages of construction, with Stage One commencing in 2025.
UNSW Canberra is actively engaging with the community and stakeholders to inform the development of the new building and public spaces, as defined by the approved Master Plan.
City Renewal is overseeing the sustainable design quality of the new campus under the Precinct Deed with UNSW. This will ensure the benefits for the Canberra community are realised. We will retain two hectares of land currently occupied by CIT Reid for future uses yet to be determined.
More information about UNSW Canberra City, including design concepts, are available to view on the UNSW Canberra website.
Artist’s impression of UNSW Canberra City Stage One buildings. Credit: Hassell.
City Renewal is responsible for overseeing UNSW’s delivery of the requirements outlined in the Precinct Deed.
We facilitate ACT Government endorsement of progressive design stages, beginning with Stage One. These endorsements are required before each stage can proceed through the planning approval and development process, ensuring the delivery of high-quality and sustainable buildings and public spaces.
We are also working closely with UNSW to ensure the new campus aligns with the City Precinct Renewal Program and our vision for the city’s south-east, as well as our design principles.
The ACT Government will retain approximately two hectares of land at the eastern end of the current CIT Reid campus for future release.
City Renewal will undertake further consultation, due diligence, feasibility studies and place-led design work to explore potential future uses of the site.
UNSW and the ACT Government have been working together over several years to develop the UNSW Canberra City proposal. The ACT Government considered a range of factors determining its contribution, including:
Public car spaces will remain available during construction of the new UNSW campus, but the location may change as the development progresses.
The ACT Government will provide advance notice and alternative parking options for users of the car parks across the road from CIT Reid, including those on both Parks and Reid sides of those Constitution Avenue.
Public car spaces are currently available at:
The former railway easement land is on the ACT Heritage Register and is a known gang-gang cockatoo foraging site.
This area will be preserved as natural space under the Master Plan. UNSW will integrate connections to this important open space through Stages Two and Three of this development, ensuring it remains open and accessible to the ACT community.
We acknowledge the Ngunnawal people as traditional custodians of the ACT and recognise any other people or families with connection to the lands of the ACT and region. We acknowledge and respect their continuing culture and the contribution they make to the life of this city and this region.