UPDATE: La Trobe University has just announced a groundbreaking $5 million master plan aimed at transforming its Bundoora campus into a vibrant city. This ambitious project, revealed on November 12, 2023, is set to reshape the future of Melbourne’s North over the next 30 years, with a vision that includes housing for 15,000 residents and support for more than 40,000 students.
The newly proposed University City will consist of three distinct villages and a central city area designed to foster a dynamic blend of education, innovation, housing, culture, and green spaces. This initiative has been developed in collaboration with the Wurrundjeri Woi Wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation and other key stakeholders.
La Trobe University Chancellor John Brumby emphasized the project’s economic impact, stating, “University City could boost Gross Regional product in Melbourne’s north-east by an estimated $440 million each year and generate around $202 million in annual student spending.”
Vice Chancellor Professor Theo Farrell described the development as “a bold, purpose-built innovation city where education drives everything – and sparks so much more.” The master plan details four distinct neighborhoods: the North Village with a residential focus, the East Village offering mixed-use housing and student accommodation, the South Village aimed at fostering research and industry partnerships, and a revitalized City Centre expanding westward with new retail and academic spaces.
Key features of the master plan include over one million square meters of green, regenerative open space, highlighted by the Nangak Tamboree eco-corridor. Additionally, the project will enhance cycling and pedestrian links and propose a new suburban rail loop station.
The university’s development partner, Plenary Group, is already underway with an $82 million University Health Clinic, aimed at solidifying La Trobe’s status as a global leader in education and sustainability. Damien Augustinus, Plenary’s Head of Infrastructure, stated, “This project will cement La Trobe as a global university of choice and a sustainability exemplar.”
Once completed, La Trobe University City is projected to create over 33,000 jobs, including 3,000 in construction, injecting an impressive $3.5 billion into the regional economy over the next decade. This initiative not only positions La Trobe as a leader in educational transformation but also sets a new benchmark for urban development driven by academic institutions.
Stay tuned for further updates as the La Trobe University City project progresses, promising to usher in a new era of growth and innovation for Melbourne’s North.
