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Once a part of electrical manufacturer Clipsal and SA Gas, Bowden combines this rich heritage with urban aesthetic.
Bowden has been designed to blend history, culture, and sustainability against a vibrant community. Bowden’s contemporary design blueprint will celebrate its industrial heritage and embrace a smarter way to live.
Bowden's history
In 1839, James Hurtle Fischer, the first Resident Commissioner of South Australia, named the site
Bowden after his native village in Northamptonshire.
Since Bowden’s founding, it has been used for gasworks, brickworks, glassworks and in 1936 became
the site for the Clipsal factory, which manufactured conduit and electrical accessories.
The Bowden master plan includes a lot of the site’s history into the design of the new community. Eight
historical structures, including factories, cottages and chimney, are adaptively reimagined with new
uses that sit alongside Bowden’s contemporary urban architecture.
Bowden's present
Bowden has come full circle. It was once the busiest neighbourhood in Adelaide. Residents enjoyed community life at the crossroads between suburbs and metropolis. Their lives revolved tightly around family, friends and work. It was a place to grow and prosper and live a full life. Now, the redevelopment of this hidden but valuable ‘edge-of- the-city’ quarter is bringing this life back. Former glory still exists in old buildings that have been retained and repurposed, while hints of the past have been creatively woven into the design stories of new buildings. But most importantly, a vibrant sense of community has returned. Today, Bowden connects a contemporary vision of life with a respectful embrace of its past.
Bowden's future
We have held a long-term vision to see Bowden Heritage Precinct remediated and transformed into a
vibrant, healthy and active area as part of the Bowden redevelopment. In July 2021, we sought interest
from external parties on development options for the site. Following an open and public competitive process, experienced national developer, MAB Corporation, was selected to transform and activate the
former Brompton Gasworks site to become an active and vibrant mixed-use precinct.
The development is set to deliver a master planned village including townhouses, apartments – with a
commitment to provide more than 15% affordable housing – a hotel and commercial hub. At the heart
of the new community will sit the Heritage Precinct, a place which will see the restoration and reuse of
former Gasworks structures, featuring retail, food and beverage offerings. Approximately 1.5 hectares
will be transformed into high-quality, publicly accessible open space with parks, gardens and play
spaces.
Calm side streets, green parklets, seamless walking paths. We call them the space between. You’ll know them as favourite spots to unwind, find creative inspiration and feel connected to your community.
Discover Bowden
It’s hard not to feel energised and inspired at Bowden. It’s a community with people at its heart, style
in spades and plenty to discover and do.
Why not take a self-guided tour and discover art in our back streets, laneways, and parks from Bowden
to Croydon.
Live Bowden
Great places are made by people. Bowden’s thoughtful design encourages people to come together
and builds on the sense of community, just like in years gone by.
One of the many advantages of medium-density living is that it encourages neighbours to bump into
one another and further strengthen their relationships.
Like nowhere else
It’s more than just the homes – it’s all the local amenities and “people places” that make this 6 Star Green Star neighbourhood thrive. Bowden is a place to live life in. Contemporary apartments, modern townhouses, a retail and community hub, convenient public transport links, tree-lined streets dotted with colourful art and the spaces between, are all part of the remarkable vision being realized. It’s where everyone wants to be.
Bowden boasts now, as it boasted then, a strong cohesive community working hard for the growth and betterment of Adelaide and the state of South Australia.
Hectares
16.3
Equivalent to 32.5 soccer pitches. Bowden is being transformed into a vibrant inner-city destination. Overlooking the parklands to the north-west of Adelaide, Bowden is a new generation development leading the way in ‘ground- breaking’ ideas.
Residents
3,750
Bowden encourages people to come together and builds on the sense of community, just like in years gone by. One of the many advantages is that it encourages neighbours to bump into one another and further strengthen their relationships.
Homes
850+
Bowden is unlike anywhere else in Adelaide. It’s where contemporary living meets a vibrant, creative community. It’s where you want to be. Our streets are designed for walking and cycling with shady trees and street art.
Our vision
Bowden’s history of heavy industry has
transformed into a vibrant inner-city
destination. It blends history, culture
and sustainability into a
smarter way to live.
Download our brand book
Our vision
Bowden’s history of heavy industry has transformed into a vibrant inner-city destination. It blends history, culture and sustainability into a smarter way to live.
Download Brand Book
Bowden’s urban design review panel
Bowden’s urban design review panel review all of Bowden’s residential, retail and commercial developments to ensure only great architecture sees the light of day and that our streetscapes put people first.
Bowden’s urban design guidelines
Bowden’s urban design guidelines provide specific direction for developers and designers to navigate the development and design process.
Bowden’s design review panel
The design review panel is responsible for providing independent expert advice on the
architectural design of all homes, businesses and other built structures that are proposed
within the Bowden precinct. They ensure new development is innovative, sustainable and
functional in design and is in keeping with the intent established for Bowden.
All Developers are required to present their proposal for approval to the design review panel who provide clear, prompt and design-driven feedback against Bowden’s urban design guidelines prior to lodgment for Development Approval with the State Commission Assessment Panel (SCAP).
Retail / Commercial Tenancies
At Bowden, there are a range of existing vacant and future opportunities for retail, office and food/beverage tenancies to join our thriving community.
Whether you’re looking to buy or rent a space, Bowden is unlike anywhere else in Adelaide.
A brilliant place to live
doesn’t happen
by
accident. It happens with
considered
planning and
strict adherence to
sustainable principles.
Urban design guidelines
