Photo — South Australian Jockey Club
The race is on at Morphettville following the announcement of a $350m redevelopment
The long-anticipated news of a confirmed commercial and residential development at Morphettville racecourse broke this week, anticipating new residents could move in as soon as 2026.
The South Australian Jockey Club selected national developer Villawood Properties and superannuation giant Host Plus to help deliver the massive $350m development of 7.5ha of rezoned land between the racetrack’s home turn and Anzac Highway.
Villawood and Hostplus will lead the charge in transforming underutilised land into a vibrant, housing, and commercial precinct for the benefit of the economy, the wider community, and the sustainable future of racing in South Australia.
The plans boast a new community plaza linking Anzac Highway to Morphettville, mixed-use apartments, supermarkets, shops, hospitality venues and 250 townhouses and low-rise apartments.
SAJC CEO and the South Australian Business Chamber member Grant Mayer said “This long-anticipated redevelopment will enable us to invest back into Morphettville for the benefit of our valued members, the community, the racing industry and the State.”
The project is anticipated to support up to 700 construction jobs with work expected to start by mid-2024.
The redevelopment has been a long time coming and has been welcomed by the state government, with the Minister for Housing and Urban Development, Nick Champion saying it will help address the state’s housing crisis.
History
The South Australian Jockey Club formed a master plan committee in August 2013 to deliver an assessment of surplus land around the Morphettville precinct to consider potential future uses.
In May 2020, Chairman Bob Holton announced the Morphettville Racecourse Development Plan Amendment (DPA) had formally been approved by the state government.