Charles Sturt University (CSU) staff in Port Macquarie have spent the weekend moving to the new purpose-built campus off Major Innes Road.

Students will join staff at the new campus when they begin classes for session two on Tuesday 26 April.

Head of Campus of CSU in Port Macquarie Professor Heather Cavanagh said, "Moving to our new campus at Port Macquarie marks a real turning point for Charles Sturt University.

"We have been welcomed as part of the Port Macquarie and Hastings region community since the day Charles Sturt University started offering courses at our interim Grant Street campus in 2012, but now we have a real physical presence at this wonderful campus.

"It is thrilling that our campus is operational and we are able to share this presence with our community partners and members of the public. We feel that Charles Sturt University in Port Macquarie has grown up and this move is a homecoming," Professor Cavanagh said.

The move to the new multi-level building set around a landscaped courtyard marks the completion of stage one of CSU's development at Port Macquarie. It includes flexible indoor and outdoor teaching spaces, the learning commons and library, student central, a specialised simulation space, Indigenous courtyard, and administrative areas.

There are currently 625 students studying on campus at CSU in Port Macquarie and about 110 staff. By 2017 it is predicted student numbers will be approximately 1 000 and there will be 20 courses available in Port Macquarie.

The cost of the Port Macquarie campus stage one development was $47 million in total, $27 million of which was directly funded by CSU.

Future stage two and three developments on the 11 hectare site are subject to demand and funding.

Professor Cavanagh said, "We would also like to thank Port Macquarie-Hastings Council Library, Port Macquarie Hospital Library, St Columba Anglican School, and the University of New South Wales for helping us and opening their facilities to Charles Sturt University students."

There will be an official opening of the new CSU in Port Macquarie campus later in 2016.