Bowden

Just 2.5 kilometres from the Adelaide CBD on the former Clipsal site, Bowden is alive with contemporary architecture, expansive green spaces and a rich mix of housing options. It’s a vibrant, walkable neighbourhood built around connection, sustainability, and liveability.

Spanning 11 hectares, Bowden is designed for life on foot or by bike, with shared streets and seamless access to the city and surrounding areas via public transport, walking paths and bike trails.

Sustainability is at the forefront of Bowden. It was one of the first communities in Australia to achieve a 6 Star Green Star Communities rating, with every building independently certified to a minimum 5 Star Green Star rating by the Green Building Council of Australia.

Now in its final stages, Bowden continues to grow with new residential and mixed-use developments progressing simultaneously across the project.

These include Renewal SA's affordable housing project and a new build-to-rent development, which will introduce a large-scale rental offering to further diversify housing choice within the precinct.

These projects will deliver hundreds of new homes, alongside additional retail, commercial opportunities, and community infrastructure, supporting Bowden's continued growth as a thriving inner-city neighbourhood.

Together with the neighbouring Brompton Gasworks precinct, Bowden forms a 16.3-hectare urban renewal precinct. Alongside the emerging Southwark Grounds neighbourhood, these projects are contributing to the ongoing transformation of Adelaide's inner west into a vibrant mixed-use destination.

Bowden reflects Renewal SA’s commitment to demonstrating a new urban form - one that offers diverse housing choices for people of all incomes and aspirations. It demonstrates how people-centred design can create places where residents are inspired to live, work, and play.

Since its launch in 2008, Bowden has evolved into a multi-award-winning development, setting new benchmarks for urban design that prioritises community, sustainability and innovation.

The project showcases the power of collaboration between the public and private sectors - delivering not only a vibrant, liveable neighbourhood but also strong commercial outcomes for investors.

Bowden continues to adapt to changing market needs, introducing innovative housing options such as Nightingale Housing’s sustainably driven, simple and affordable living model to South Australia for the first time.

Kaurna culture is proudly celebrated throughout Bowden’s streets and reserves, thanks to a close collaboration between Renewal SA and Kaurna elders from the Kaurna Nation Cultural Heritage Association. This includes the creation of an Indigenous native food garden within the Wardli-ana Tapa Reserve, honouring traditional knowledge and connection to Country.

Bowden’s industrial past is also thoughtfully preserved. Historic warehouses have been adaptively reused to create Plant 3 and Plant 4, now vibrant retail and event hubs that sit at the heart of community life.

The former Brompton Gasworks site has been remediated by MAB Corporation, making it safe for both current residents and future generations. Key heritage structures such as the Chief Street Wall and the Retort Houses will be protected and reimagined as part of a dedicated heritage quarter. This space will blend retail, commercial, and residential offerings, continuing the legacy of the site while shaping its future under MAB Corporation’s vision.

Consistent and meaningful engagement with stakeholders and the local community has been a cornerstone of the Bowden project from the very beginning.

This commitment to collaboration continues, ensuring that community feedback remains central to the project’s evolution.

MAB Corporation is equally dedicated to ongoing engagement and keeping the community informed, and involved, throughout every phase of the Brompton Gasworks redevelopment.