James Cook University to demolish western campus buildings and sell off the land

It’s the end of an era for 16 buildings in James Cook University’s western campus, which are set to be demolished. Find out why, and what will happen next.

Former JCU lecturer Trevor Bond at James Cook University's Western Campus with building earmarked for demolition. Picture: Evan Morgan

It’s the end of an era for most of the buildings in James Cook University’s western campus, which will be demolished and the land sold for a future residential development to help address Townsville’s housing crisis.

With 30 years of history working at the campus as an education lecturer, Trevor Bond discovered the plans for demolition after seeing warning signs and extensive fencing on one of his regular bike rides.

The news of the impending demolition brought sadness to many in the community who had fond memories of living and learning their craft on the Western Campus.

A JCU spokesman confirmed that works had already begun on demolishing 16 buildings that had sat unused for more than a decade, including the Western Halls blocks and buildings ringed by Endeavour Drive.

“Most of the buildings date back to the 1960s and include the former Western Halls student accommodation, as well as teaching and support buildings,” the spokesman said.

“The buildings are too old to be renovated and nearby enabling infrastructure, such as roads, sewer, and electricity, has reached its end of life. The cost of refurbishment is unviable.”

He said the 15ha of land occupied by the buildings was “surplus to the university’s needs” and represented four per cent of the university’s total campus land holdings of 380 hectares.

“JCU has been consolidating its physical footprint on the campus for more than a decade, by bringing more of its functions into the heart of the campus,” he said.

“JCU is considering multiple options for the sale and/ or development of the land for residential housing.

“This is in keeping with the University’s Bebegu Yumba Campus Masterplan released in 2017, which envisaged residential development in the western corner of the campus.”

Nearby residents have been informed about the demolition works through letterbox drops.

It is unclear how much the centrally-located land would be worth, but it was estimated that it could create an additional 150-300 residential housing lots.

While disappointed and regretful about the fate of the buildings, Mr Bond wasn’t entirely surprised they were being levelled.

During his time at the campus between 1977 and 2005, he saw the western campus steadily decline due to a shift in focus towards the eastern campus, coupled staff cutbacks, reduced investment and maintenance, causing a “slow downward spiral”.

Former JCU lecturer Trevor Bond at James Cook University's Western Campus with building earmarked for demolition. Picture: Evan Morgan

Former JCU lecturer Trevor Bond at James Cook University's Western Campus with building earmarked for demolition. Picture: Evan Morgan

“I noticed that there were signs of concrete cancer, even back then, bits of rusted reinforcing and cracked through the outside of the concrete castings and things like that,” he said.

“It was only a matter of time before it was going to come down, and it was just a matter of when they decided to do it, and that they’d have to spend money to do it, and there was some future purpose.”

James Cook University's western campus has become a demolition site. Picture: Trevor Bond.

Mr Bond was interested to know whether there had been a change to the agreement for the campus’ land, which the Townsville City Council had originally given to the Queensland Government for educational purposes.

“Of course it’s going to help with the housing crisis,” he said.

“My guess is it’s going to help with the university’s bottom line, and no wonder they want to … universities have been starved of funds by both sides of government for probably three decades, and so … this is something they can do.”

Originally published as James Cook University to demolish western campus buildings and sell off the land