Location and Climate

The Thurgoona campus of Charles Sturt University is an 87 hectare site 10 kilometres north east of Albury on the NSW-Victoria border, bounded by a creek and three roads. It was degraded farmland when the university purchased it in 1993 from the Albury-Wodonga Development Corporation (AWDC). There was a three storey office building, the former headquarters of the AWDC, which was retained and is now used as the main administration building.

Albury's climate is characterised by hot dry summers (Jan-Feb average maximum temperature is 30 degrees celsius, but can go over 40) and cold wet winters (average minimum temperatures from June-August are around 3 degrees celsius, and 3pm temperatures between 11 and 16 degrees celsius). Designing to provide sufficient heat in winter and adequate cool in summer without air conditioning was to be a challenge. Annual rainfall is 784mm with most of this falling in winter and spring, meaning that irrigation is required in the summer.

Mains power and town water were supplied to the AWDC building, but would require expansion to serve a new campus. There were no connections to town sewerage or storm water mains. This minimal infrastructure was taken as an opportunity to create a quasi-autonomous campus. This was a significant decision leading to the design of an extensive water management system, which incorporates capture, cleaning, storage and re-use. It meant that storm water connections were not needed, the town water supply did not have to be amplified, while the use of dry composting toilets has avoided the need for mains sewerage connection or an on site sewage treatment plant.