Western Sydney University announces Bankstown CBD as location for new campus

BANKSTOWN CBD will be the location for Western Sydney University’s newest “vertical” campus, which is expected to open in 2021.

Western Sydney University’s Bankstown CBD campus is expected to be a similar, smaller model of the $220 million University Parramatta City Campus. Picture: Jonathan Ng

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BANKSTOWN CBD will be the location for Western Sydney University’s newest “vertical” campus.

In January the university opened the 14-storey Shergold building in the heart of Parramatta and Liverpool’s CBD campus is set to open in February.

Today WSU announced that by 2021 Bankstown too would have its own world-class teaching and research campus.

But the construction of the Bankstown CBD could also mean the eventual closure of Milperra campus with Prof Glover saying WSU is looking into “future options” at the campus.

Bankstown CBD will be a smaller model of WSU’s Parramatta campus. Picture: Jonathan Ng

While Parramatta campus supports 10,000 students, Bankstown CBD campus is expected to host up to 5000 students.

The location is still being finalised, with the university looking at a number of “viable options” in consultation with Canterbury Bankstown Council.

The development of Liverpool and Bankstown campuses are expected to contribute a combined $54 million to southwest Sydney’s economy.

Western Sydney University vice-chancellor Barney Glover said the Bankstown model would be “very similar” to Parramatta, but instead of 26,500 sqm it will be smaller at 12,000-16,000 sqm.

Prof Glover said CBD locations near transport are “crucially important” to meeting the future needs and expectations of the region.

University of Western Sydney's Bankstown campus in Milperra.

Current courses based at Milperra have already begun to be transferred, with all social science students to move to Liverpool campus as early as 2018.

Prof Glover said Bankstown CBD could also absorb some of the programs if the site is closed.