Skip to content
Outdoor campus area with trees, benches, picnic tables, and a pathway leading past buildings on a sunny day.

UniSQ Springfield - 20 Years of Impact

Join us at the 2026 Springfield Community Open Day for a free community celebration as UniSQ Springfield marks 20 years in one of Australia's fastest-growing regions.

In 2026, UniSQ Springfield marks 20 years as a cornerstone of Greater Springfield’s growth – expanding access to education, building workforce capability, and creating opportunity for a rapidly evolving region.

Established in 2006 as part of the Education City vision, the campus was designed to grow with the community – integrating education, industry, health, and civic life from day one.

Two decades on, UniSQ Springfield remains a long-term anchor: connecting people to opportunity, and helping shape the future of South East Queensland. The milestone will be marked through a series of initiatives, including a UniSQ Springfield Community Open Day on Saturday 8 August, bringing the community together to reflect on the campus’s impact and future.

UniSQ Springfield Campus

A construction site at UniSQ Springfield with scaffolding structures, cranes, and equipment is visible near a forested area, with a curved gravel road in the foreground.
2005 A road to progress as the Springfield campus build begins.
Aerial view of the auditorium building at UniSQ Springfield campus under construction with workers and construction equipment visible around the site.
2005 The auditorium rising on the Springfield campus.
Aerial view of the construction of UniSQ Springfield, with cranes, vehicles, and a partially built industrial building surrounded by trees and dirt areas.
2005 The Springfield campus emerging from the landscape.
Construction of UniSQ Springfield campus.
2005 Springfield campus construction.
A Block, UniSQ Springfield.
2005 A Block completed as the Springfield campus takes shape.
Maha Sinnathamby, and USQ Vice-Chancellor, Professor Bill Lovegrove.
2006 Founder of Greater Springfield, Maha Sinnathamby, and USQ Vice-Chancellor, Professor Bill Lovegrove.
Auditorium construction from the air.
2006 Auditorium construction from the air.
Former Australia Prime Minister John Howard stands at a podium on a stage addressing an audience in a lecture hall, with cameras and crew recording at UniSQ Springfield.
2006 PM John Howard speaks in the auditorium at UniSQ Springfield soon after opening.
A news article with a photo of a woman holding balloons. The Headline reads Uni open doors
2006 The first UniSQ Springfield Open Day is announced.
A large group of people congregating outside at UniSQ Springfield's first open day.
2007 An early UniSQ Springfield Open Day.
A group of graduates at UniSQ Springfield wearing caps and gowns walk along a path outside a modern academic building on a sunny day.
2009 An academic procession marks Springfield's first graduation ceremony.
A group of graduates in caps and gowns toss their caps in the air in front of a building at UniSQ Springfield.
2009 The first Springfield campus graduates celebrate the milestone.
USQ Springfield.
2010 Springfield campus life.
USQ Springfield Open Day.
2012 Springfield Open Day.
Springfield Auditorium from the air.
2013 Springfield Auditorium from the air.
Springfield B Block construction.
2014 B Block construction.
Springfield B Block construction completed.
2015 B Block construction is complete.
Springfield Phoenix Carnival.
2016 Springfield Phoenix Carnival.
B Block and the new walk-bridge to A Block.
2016 B Block and the new walk-bridge to A Block.
B Block, A Block and the Auditorium.
2017 B Block, A Block and the Auditorium.
Boeing 737-800 Flight Simulator.
2018 Boeing 737-800 Flight Simulator.
The expanding campus and its landscape.
2019 The expanding campus and its landscape.
Inter-campus shuttle bus.
2019 Inter-campus shuttle bus.
Springfield campus library.
2019 Springfield campus library.
B Block ‘Atrium’.
2020 B Block ‘Atrium’.
Engineering Laboratory.
2022 Engineering Laboratory.
Springfield campus and surrounds.
2023 Springfield campus and surrounds.
The Media Centre at Springfield campus.
2023 The Media Centre at Springfield campus.
Showcasing ‘Robodog’ at Open Day.
2024 Showcasing ‘Robodog’ at Open Day.
Open Day at Springfield campus.
2025 Open Day at Springfield campus.
Aerial view of UniSQ Springfield campus.
2025 Springfield campus and precinct from the air.
Springfield campus front entrance.
2026 Springfield campus front entrance.

From Vision to Impact

The Springfield Vision
Springfield stands as a national example of intentional city building – where education, health, industry, and community are planned together, not retrofitted later. UniSQ Springfield has been central to that vision, expanding participation and embedding education within the life of the region.
Education, Pathways and Impact
UniSQ Springfield has expanded access to higher education in a major growth corridor, strengthened workforce capability across key industries, and created clear pathways from school and VET into university study. Through strong partnerships with government, industry and community, it delivers place-based education that is connected, practical, and focused on real impact.
Looking Ahead
UniSQ Springfield continues to grow alongside one of Australia’s youngest and fastest-developing cities. As the region evolves, so too does the campus – adapting to changing needs while staying deeply connected to its community. The focus remains clear: expand opportunity, respond to workforce demand, and deliver impact where it matters most.

Be Part of the Story

UniSQ Springfield has been shaped by its people. If you have photos, memories or memorabilia from the past 20 years, help us bring that story to life.
Email us!
A woman with long dark hair wearing a short-sleeved black dress stands indoors, smiling at the camera. Framed photos are visible on the wall behind her.
Raynuha Sinnathamby

The CEO of Springfield City Group is reflecting on the long-term partnership and shared ambition that helped bring a university campus to one of Australia’s fastest-growing regions.

A man with gray hair and glasses, wearing a patterned shirt and blue blazer, stands indoors with blurred stage lights and musical equipment in the background.
Dr Daryl Sparkes

When Dr Daryl Sparkes first arrived at the UniSQ Springfield campus in 2006, the buildings were still covered in plastic, tradespeople were finishing construction work, and cow tracks were still visible across the site.

A middle-aged man with short hair and glasses is smiling, wearing a light blue button-up shirt, standing indoors with blurred background.
Doug Fraser

For Doug Fraser, the story of the University of Southern Queensland Springfield campus has never just been about buildings or growth; it has always been about creating opportunity.

Iain is wearing a blue blazer and light blue shirt smiles while standing indoors with a blurred background.
Iain Puxty

Iain is building his future at UniSQ Springfield, gaining valuable skills and making a meaningful impact along the way. Discover the opportunities he’s embraced, and where his path could lead.

2026 Springfield Community Open Day
Join us for a free community celebration as UniSQ Springfield marks 20 years in one of Australia's fastest-growing regions. Enjoy a family-friendly day of live entertainment, food trucks, interactive activities, wildlife encounters and hands-on science experiences.
Find out more
A woman smiles outdoors with two girls beside her, both with face paint. People, tents, and trees appear in the background at what looks like a community event.
UniSQ Thought Leadership Series
This special event in October 2026 will position Greater Springfield as a living case study in education led city building, exploring how access can be expanded in growth regions, how lifelong learning and flexible pathways can be strengthened, the role of universities as civic institutions, and how education can respond to the future workforce needs of South East Queensland.
Register early interest
A person stacking three wooden blocks on a table, with another person blurred in the background.
Alumni Stories – Impact Beyond Campus
Our alumni are shaping industries and communities across the globe. Read their stories and see how a UniSQ education can open doors to extraordinary opportunities.
Alumni news
UniSQ alumni Floyd Leedie