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History of the campus

> original site > first new building > environmental buildings > lectures and teaching
> student accommodation > student recreation > education to the fore

Original site

The 87 hectare site is 10 kilometres north east of Albury on the NSW-Victoria border, bound by a creek and three roads (see map). The area was cleared for farming in the mid 1800s. Inappropriate management has degraded soils, encouraged weeds and caused severe erosion of creek banks.

Some areas were replanted with native trees in the early 1970s and three buildings, associated road works and car parks constructed in the south east corner of the site.

Charles Sturt University purchased the site in 1993 from the Albury-Wodonga Development Corporation (AWDC).
The former AWDC administration building at Thurgoona is now the Gordon Beavan Administration and Teaching Building for the CSU Thurgoona Campus.

The Gordon Beavan Building on Thurgoona Campus.
Photo: W. Ward

First new building

The first building built by CSU at Thurgoona, the original Student Pavilion, was completed in May 1996 and was a prototype for future buildings on the site. The Student Pavillion laid the foundation for demonstrating and gaining acceptance of an environmental design approach to the further development of the Thurgoona campus.

The original Student Pavilion Photos: < W. Ward M. Fallander >

The environmental buildings

The first major group of buildings , which were commenced in 1997, were occupied by the School of Environmental & Information Sciences in February 1999. The construction consisted of a two storey building for 100 staff and single storey buildings for specialist teaching, a regional herbarium and a computer network centre.

	Administration Building for School of Environmental and Information Sciences: outside (above) and inside (left) Photos: M. Fallander

Lecture and teaching building

In October 1998, construction commenced on a two-storey teaching complex, including a 200-seat lecture theatre, and accommodation for 32 students.

The teaching complex advanced the concepts of low energy design. The lecture theatre, which has an earth covered roof to maintain more even room temperature, includes artificial waterfalls and sprays for pre-cooling incoming air delivered to the air displacement system via a thermal chimney. The complex also includes a twin-tank storage system for heating and cooling water for use during the change of seasons, as well as other heating and cooling features incorporated in earlier buildings.

The Teaching and Lecture Complex on Thurgoona Campus.
Photos: M. Fallander

In May 2001, the main lecture theatre was named the C D Blake Lecture Theatre in honour of the inaugural Vice-Chancellor of CSU, Professor Cliff Blake.

Student accommodation

The accommodation cottages, named The Rothwells, use all the environmentally sensitive features used in earlier buildings. Greywater from the laundry is treated in specially designed artificial wetlands before moving into the water retention basins at the base of the hill.

Living in The Rothwells, the students accommodation cottages on Thurgoona Campus. Photos: M. Fallander

The cottages were named in honour of the inaugural Head of Albury-Wodonga Campus, Professor Bryan Rothwell, and his wife, Pauline. Four cottages, housing 32 students, and a laundry block were completed in 2000.

Two additional cottages, which include two rooms for students with disbilities, were completed in February 2002. Accommodation in Thurgoona Campus in 2003 totals 46 beds in six cottages.

Student recreation

Student services and various recreational activities are due to be housed under one roof in 2003.
The Student Recreation building, located between the academic and recreational parts of the campus, will become a focus for students living and working on the campus.

The student association building in 2003, inside (right) and out (below). Photo: Wes Ward

The recreation building, which was completed in July 2003, reflects the objectives of the campus through the need for sustainable community living.

Formal and fun -
The Student Association Building on Thurgoona Campus.
Photo: Wes Ward

Education to the fore

Building commenced for the new Murray Education Unit building commenced in February 2004. The building, similar to the existing School of Environmental & Information Sciences buildings, is due to be completed in June 2005.

Construction well underway on Murray Education Unit building
on the Thurgoona Campus.
Photo: Wes Ward

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The Thurgoona Campus has already won numerous awards for its buildings and water management systems. See the Thurgoona News page for a list of awards.

> return to top > Thurgoona home page

For further information about developments on Thurgoona Campus,
contact CSU's Director, Building & Design, on telephone (61-2) 6933 2265.

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Last edited: 29 November 2004
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