We want to hear your voice!

We're holding a Community Forum for 100 community-minded people – from different ages, suburbs, and backgrounds.
Register your interest now
Skip to main content
08 8375 6600 request support contact
log in

Tonsley Innovation District

What is Tonsley?

Tonsley is Australia’s first innovation district, connecting businesses with the best and brightest.

The former Mitsubishi Motors assembly plant at Tonsley is in the process of being completely redeveloped as an integrated employment, education and residential precinct by Renewal SA.

This is a unique development in the City of Marion and we are looking for ways to encourage the business and local community to activate this space.

Tonsley Walking Tours

Weekly walking tours of the Tonsley Innovation District have now resumed. Meet your guide for a walking tour of Tonsley and its mixed use precinct design, supporting businesses wanting to innovate, grow, go global and move up the value chain. Learn about how Tonsley Innovation District is bringing together Australia’s smartest businesses with residential and community living.

More about Tonsley

Tonsley Australia’s First Innovation District. Tonsley has been designed to unite progressive individuals, businesses and researchers looking to collaborate, test, build and grow in a flexible and supportive environment.

With a specific focus on the high-value manufacturing sector, Tonsley’s masterplan incorporates collaborative meeting and working spaces providing world-class facilities to help take great new ideas from concept and testing to market.

Tonsley Innovation District is new, but it has a spirit of entrepreneurialism deep within its roots. Tonsley has been the home of innovation since the 1800s when the Ragless family farmed the site and developed several automated harvesting technologies. Fifty years ago, Tonsley was a cornerstone of South Australia’s manufacturing industry, the home of Chrysler Australia and later Mitsubishi Motors.

Today, it integrates environmental, social and economic opportunities. There’s a focus on innovation, education, health and collaboration in a quality environment.

  • Home to over 30 businesses and over 100 members of the two working spaces on site, plus Flinders University's College of Science and Engineering and TAFE
  • 6,500 students study and train at Tonsley per year (will increase to 8,500 at the completion of the project)
  • The residential development will house 1,200 residents in 850 dwellings
  • Employee numbers on site are higher than at the point of Mitsubishi’s closure in 2008

Tonsley Innovation District’s four focus sectors reflect South Australia’s economic strengths and opportunities:

Health, medical devices and assistive technologies

Health, medical devices and assistive technologies organisations already operating at Tonsley include:

Software and simulation

Automation, Software and simulation success stories at Tonsley include:

Mining and energy services

Current Mining and Energy Services partners include:

Tonsley’s emerging world-class resources for the mining and energy services sector include:

Further information about Tonsley

Do you have a query?

If you have any queries about the project, please speak to the Tonsley project team from Renewal SA.

Renewal SA Project Team
Phone: 1300 663 707
Email: info@tonsley.com

City of Marion contact:
Brett Grimm