Shuttered Oz Auto Plant Reborn as Research Center

There’s life after death for at least one Australian vehicle manufacturing plant.

The former Mitsubishi – and before that Chrysler – manufacturing site at Tonsley has reopened as Flinders University’s new A$120 million ($91.8 million) teaching and research center.

Federal Industry Minister Ian Macfarlane was on hand for the event near Adelaide where Chrysler established a car assembly plant in 1964 and became Mitsubishi’s Australian manufacturing base in 1980.

Macfarlane calls the new facility an illustration of both the changing nature of global manufacturing and opportunities for growth in Australian jobs and industries.

“Australia’s industries of the future, like those being developed at Flinders…will be focused on innovation, research and reaching into global marketplaces and global supply chains,” he says in a statement.

The university is housing its School of Computer Science, Engineering and Mathematics, Medical Device Research Institute, Centre for NanoScale Science and Technology, Flinders Partners and the New Venture Institute at the facility.

Premier Jay Weatherill says the 6-story, 172,000-sq.-ft. (16,000-sq.-m) structure, which can accommodate 2,000 students a year, is a prominent feature on the rapidly developing site.

“Tonsley is forecast to attract more than A$1 billion ($765 million) in private investment through the attraction of businesses that will build new capabilities and create jobs,” he says.

South Australian Manufacturing and Innovation Minister Kyam Maher says Tonsley is a great example of what could happen when GM Holden ends vehicle manufacturing in 2017.

“The closure of Holden in 2017 will present significant challenges but also opportunities for northern Adelaide,” he tells reporters.

“It is pleasing to see this magnificent building open and adding to the integration of industry, education, training, research, the community and soon, residential living, rejuvenating this former automotive manufacturing plant."