Dozens of new residents have begun moving into Renewal SA’s Bowden precinct over the past month following the completion of a new multi‑storey apartment building, the first of six major development projects set to be completed this year.
The eight‑storey Uniting on Second building started welcoming residents after the completion of an 18-month construction program delivered by Kennett on behalf of not‑for‑profit community housing provider UnitingSA.
The milestone comes as Muse, Otello’s 36‑apartment development further along Second Street with a hospitality‑focused ground‑level activation, reaches its highest point of construction.
Renewal SA Director Matt Hunt, who oversees the Bowden project, said the completion marked the first of many milestones expected in 2026, with hundreds of new homes to be delivered alongside new hospitality, retail and office spaces.
“It’s an exciting time for Bowden,” Mr Hunt said.
“Watching people light up as they move into their new home brings all of us a tremendous amount of joy and is a constant reminder of why well thought‑out, strategic urban infill is so important.”
Construction of the affordable housing development began in mid‑2024, with more than 1,000 workers contributing to the build.
Uniting on Second offers homes for both sale and rental across 70 one and two‑bedroom apartments.
The development features a rooftop garden and shared communal spaces, secure bike storage and car parking, energy‑efficient systems, double‑glazed windows and the use of low‑carbon materials.
UnitingSA CEO Jenny Hall said she was pleased with how Uniting on Second had turned out and believed residents felt the same, reflected in the strong level of interest in recent weeks.
“There has been an influx of interest in the apartments with well over 1,000 enquiries so far,” Ms Hall said.
Kennett General Manager Anthony Carbone said he was proud to be working alongside UnitingSA and government partners to deliver the homes.
Uniting on Second is the first of six projects scheduled for completion this year. Renewal SA estimates the following delivery timeframes for the remaining projects:
- April: Handover of 42 townhouses across two projects on Karra Tapa Lane and Gibson Street
- May: Hundreds of workers occupying a new multi‑level commercial office building on Second Street
- August: A new hospitality venue by the team behind Bowden Brewing opening below 36 apartments on the corner of Gibson and Third streets, known as Muse
- September: Practical completion of an 11‑storey apartment tower on Park Terrace delivering 145 new homes above four boutique ground‑level retail tenancies
Mr Hunt said the projects, all delivered by separate private developers, would bring about 450 new residents to Bowden, along with approximately 250 workers each day.
He acknowledged increased construction activity in the precinct had at times been disruptive but said moments such as resident move‑ins reinforced the broader purpose of ongoing development.
“Property development, particularly in challenging and constrained environments like those we are currently experiencing in Bowden, can be tough on communities,” he said.
“But we must remember that we are building homes, creating a lasting and sustainable community, and we are edging ever closer to the end of delivery.”
Jonathon Kaitatzis, owner of Plant 3 and Plant 4, said the increase in residents would be positive for retail and dining outlets across the precinct.
“Having more people living and working within walking distance helps create the kind of vibrant, everyday community that places like ours thrive on,” Mr Kaitatzis said.
Mr Kaitatzis said the traders operating within Plant 3 and Plant 4 were independent and locally owned.
“Increased foot traffic from people who live and work nearby makes a real difference to their sustainability, growth and connection to community,” he said.
“We’re looking forward to welcoming the new residents and workers into the neighbourhood.”
While several projects are wrapping up this year, work will also begin on three developments set to bring more than 400 homes to market over the next two years.
- Just started: A multi‑deck car park with 221 spaces, 170 of which will be publicly available, alongside 80 affordable apartments and four market townhouses between Second and Third streets
- Starting mid-year: On the site of the Bowden Discovery Centre and Adelaide Bike Kitchen, FLOWE Bowden will include state‑of‑the‑art health and wellness facilities below more than 100 apartments
- Starting mid-year: South Australia’s first institutional build
These projects are expected to take around two years to complete and will attract an additional 700 residents, along with a range of new community facilities.
The commencement of these projects will also see transitional arrangements put in place for visitor car parking and a local community group, as well as the closure of the Bowden Discovery Centre.
The large carpark adjacent to Bowden Park will close, with two smaller carparks closer to Park Terrace to remain for at least the next year.
In lieu of existing parking, Renewal SA is working on a strategy to see alternative sites around the precinct come online to support temporary carparking until the new 221
Mr Hunt said Renewal SA was committed to supporting the Bowden community while construction continued in the precinct.
“We are pulling every lever we can, in collaboration with council and other community stakeholders, to ensure disruptions are eased while significant construction continues,” he said.
Bowden is an urban renewal project by Renewal SA on the former Clipsal site off Park Terrace, around 2.5 kilometres from the Adelaide CBD.
