Phase one of Windara Reef marks the first step to trialling methods to restore shellfish reef habitats that were historically prolific in South Australia’s coastal waters. Developed under the broader scope of the Blue Infrastructure Initiative, the transition from concept development, stakeholder and community engagement through to reef construction has provided a foundation for shellfish restoration and supporting fisheries productivity in South Australia. Guided by a Habitat Enhancement Working Group made up of eleven stakeholder representatives across three levels of Government, commercial and recreational fisheries, non-for-profit organisations and community, Windara Reef is now the largest shellfish reef development in Australia. This project highlights the importance of co-management and community stewardship in raising both public and political awareness of the forgotten shellfish reef habitat, its ecosystem functions, traditional owners and fisheries enhancement. The first development phase in the construction of Windara Reef, led by State Government, demonstrates a ‘hands on’ approach to site management, policy, biosecurity and construction in partnership with The Nature Conservancy, University of Adelaide, the Yorke Peninsula Council and RecFish SA. This project highlights the importance of collaboration in delivering shellfish reef restoration projects and provides examples of site management considerations into the future.