ECU’s Mount Lawley Campus Is Packing Its Bags and Heading to the Perth CBD

You better make sure you’ve got a SmartRider by 2025.

Future ECU students are in for a treat because, after a bunch of speculation, WA Premier Mark McGowan has confirmed on Facebook that ECU will be vacating its Mount Lawley campus and making its way to Yagan Square in Perth City by 2025.

In a move that'll make the graduating class of 2025's uni preferences even harder, ECU is specifically planning to relocate their law, business and technology schools and the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAPPA) to the CBD.

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Posted by Mark McGowan on Saturday, September 19, 2020

With Yagan Square just a short walk from the Perth train station, this is for sure a win for students who prefer to take public transport or want to do their bit for the environment.

The Premier has said that the $695 million project will form the centerpiece of the 'Perth City Deal'.

The plan, completed in conjunction with the Commonwealth Government and the City of Perth, is set to bring more than $1 billion of investment and introduce nearly 10,000 jobs (which let's be honest, would be a real help rn).

The new campus is set to be a huge boost to local businesses and bring around 9,000 students and staff to the CBD.

Image: WAAPA via Facebook

ECU Vice-Chanellor Professor Steve Chapman said that the new campus will mark the future of tertiary education in Australia and will bring independent and innovative students.

"We are thrilled that our vision for WA's first comprehensive city campus will be a reality," he said.

"This is the future of university education—urban, connected, integrated with business and community—part of a thriving city.

"This campus will deliver the innovative thinkers, adaptive learners and global citizens who will be the leaders of tomorrow."

Image: WAAPA via Facebook

The plan for the ECU campus comes nearly a year after Murdoch University announced its teaching and events space on St George’s Terrance. Murdoch University also has plans to widen their CBD footprint with their plans to develop a vertical campus including an eSports hub.

"Our decision to establish a dynamic presence in the city comes at an important time for the future development of Perth," said Murdoch University's Vice-Chancellor Eeva Leinonen.

Curtin University also has plans to extend its CBD presence beyond its law and business school, so I guess now's the time to move to the city?

With ECU’s Mount Lawley campus soon to be empty, Mount Lawley Senior High School will move in as a plan to transition the school to include more specialist visual and performing arts.