June 14, 2017

University of Wollongong’s newest residence officially opens

UOW's vision for modern, high quality, on-campus accommodation coming to fruition. 

Nestled among the tall gum trees lining Northfields Avenue lies Bangalay, the newest addition to the University of Wollongong’s (UOW) accommodation portfolio.

This facility will be officially opened by Mr Noel Cornish AM, Deputy Chancellor of UOW today (Thursday 15 June). Bangalay is the result of UOW’s vision to provide modern, high-quality, on-campus accommodation for Australian and international postgraduate students, and is the first of two current accommodation expansion projects for its Wollongong campus.

Located directly opposite the University’s Wollongong Campus, the 254-bed building is fittingly named after the tree whose bark was used by the area’s traditional owners, the Dharawal People, to create shelters.

UOW Vice-Chancellor, Professor Paul Wellings CBE, said the latest addition to UOW’s accommodation portfolio resonates with UOW Living’s mission to provide robust shelter and support for its students.

“Living in a student residential community is a uniquely rewarding experience, allowing for intellectual, personal and social development as well as the formation of lifelong friendships,” Professor Wellings said.

“Bangalay is a place of shelter, nestled among tall gum trees and was fittingly named in consultation with the local Indigenous community.”

Designed to accommodate mature-age and postgraduate students, Bangalay offers a mix of single and double bed studios or two and three bedroom units for students with families.

All units are fully self-contained with their own kitchen and living facilities enabling independent living while also offering residents access to shared recreation, study and meeting facilities as well as landscaped outdoor communal, car parking and children’s play areas. Student residents have 24/7 access to the free bike share program at Bangalay, and can also participate in the student car share program for a small cost.

Bangalay is the first of two major on-campus accommodation construction projects currently underway. The second is an 800-bed expansion of Kooloobong Village with an associated multi-storey car park at the western end of the main Wollongong Campus. This project is due for completion by 2018.

These projects are part of an innovative public/private partnership under which UOW licenced its accommodation assets to the Living + Learning Partners consortium in 2014.