New masterplan for Port Stanvac refinery site revealed by SA state government, MBA and Exxon Mobil

An abundance of prime coastal land south of Adelaide would be unlocked for housing under a long-awaited masterplan for the old oil refinery site at Port Stanvac.

Belinda Willis

2 min read

June 9, 2025 - 2:16PM

Prime coastal land would be unlocked for housing under a long-awaited masterplan for the old oil refinery site at Port Stanvac. Picture: Supplied

A new master plan has been unveiled for thousands of people to live on the state’s old oil refinery site at Port Stanvac stretching along prime coastal real estate.

The new plan was flagged as a significant milestone in turning the long-empty southern suburbs site into a community – with new housing, businesses and community services expected to generate a $508m economic boost to the region.

Planning Minister Nick Champion has approved the Proposal to Initiate the Port Stanvac Mixed Use Code Amendments, meaning the 230ha site could now be unlocked for up to 3600 new homes including apartments, townhouses, aged care, serviced accommodation and low density sites.

Late last year the state government along with Victorian developer MAB and site owner Exxon Mobil announced work was underway to design a development with beach access to what has been long inaccessible Adelaide coastline.

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The Port Stanvac housing plan stretches along prime coastal real estate. Picture: Supplied

“The transformation of Port Stanvac will set a new benchmark for how we can repurpose under-utilised land to create thriving, connected communities that offer housing, jobs, and lifestyle opportunities for thousands of South Australians,” Mr Champion said.

“With the initiation of this code amendment the new Port Stanvac goes from being a concept to a work in progress.”

ExxonMobil stopped operating at the former Port Stanvac oil refinery site in 2003.

Premier Peter Malinauskas met with owners ExxonMobil in Washington during May last year, pushing for the clean up and development of the site.

The company has since entered into a sale contract with MAB with its development expected to open up 40ha of coastline with plans to preserve sensitive environmental areas and keep 30 per cent of the site as open space.

Port Stanvac master plan. Picture: Supplied

After years of the council, community and local businesses calling for action, City of Onkaparinga Mayor Moira Were welcomed the next stage.

The council would stay focused on ensuring there was a balance of affordable housing, industrial land supply and open space, including access to the stunning coastline, she said.

The site is one of a few major infill sites remaining in the southern suburbs.

The state government has also released the boundaries for the new suburb of Southwark on the old brewery site.

It will be bordered by the River Torrens to the north and Port Rd to the east and include landholdings where owners want to have them included in the area between Stirling St to Andrewston St, following Cawthorne St south to Light Tce.

The Southwark suburb was the first section of suburban land surveyed outside the City of Adelaide and is where Colonel William Light built his home Thebarton Cottage.