Browse Collections (8 total)
1853 - 1880: Laying the foundation of the Campus
![Students in lake, University of Melbourne, 1936. Students in lake, University of Melbourne, 1936.](https://omeka.cloud.unimelb.edu.au/constructing-change/files/thumbnails/62f980e3d38b4160daf5ba0fb19c8f51.jpg)
The University of Melbourne's Parkville campus was established in 1853. Originally it was an area of swampland which had been a food gathering area…
1880 - 1900: Consolidation
![Professorial house, University of Melbourne, circa 1956-1957. Professorial house, University of Melbourne, circa 1956-1957.](https://omeka.cloud.unimelb.edu.au/constructing-change/files/thumbnails/a022d7a6b07a0eecdf4ebf14f67f6dcb.jpg)
In 1880s, the University received multiple capital grants to expand and construct more departmental buildings. These included the New Medical School,…
1900 - 1920: Early twentieth century
![Photograph - Old Arts Building clock tower Photograph - Old Arts Building clock tower](https://omeka.cloud.unimelb.edu.au/constructing-change/files/thumbnails/064eb9815957b4a8d880c72031350972.jpg)
The Great Depression of the 1890s, which hit Australia in 1892, impacted the University through a substantial reduction in annual government grants.…
1920 - 1945: Beginning of the Public Works
![Rebuilding of Union House, University of Melbourne, circa 1967-1968. Rebuilding of Union House, University of Melbourne, circa 1967-1968.](https://omeka.cloud.unimelb.edu.au/constructing-change/files/thumbnails/48abf7152624b1efe788fc4bf3103992.jpg)
The period from 1920 to 1945 witnessed three major shifts in the development of the campus. Firstly, the Public Works Department (PWD) became the…
1945 - 1960: Post-War & Conceptual Master Plans
![Wilson Hall Fire 1952 Wilson Hall Fire 1952](https://omeka.cloud.unimelb.edu.au/constructing-change/files/thumbnails/13a8e9e383bb196236f895f78191ef12.jpg)
During the Second World War, there was no new building built on the Parkville campus. The Vice-Chancellor, John Medley, urged the University to think…
1960 - 1970: High Rises & Modernist Buildings
![Architecture, Building and Planning in 1983 Architecture, Building and Planning in 1983](https://omeka.cloud.unimelb.edu.au/constructing-change/files/thumbnails/5d770c394b2252de67c756f925b7ed92.jpg)
This time period the campus expanded vertically with an increase in high rise buildings . It was a decade of great influence for the University…
1970 - 1980: First Master Plan
![Master plan from the University of Melbourne Master Plan Report 1970 prepared by Ancher Mortlock Murray & Woolley Pty Ltd. Master plan from the University of Melbourne Master Plan Report 1970 prepared by Ancher Mortlock Murray & Woolley Pty Ltd.](https://omeka.cloud.unimelb.edu.au/constructing-change/files/thumbnails/285625f6e47d0f713dff4d30fa74ec3c.jpg)
After a decade of experimental unofficial master plans, in 1971 the University Council approved a Master Plan prepared by Ancher Mortlock Murray &…
1980 - 2008: Moving towards urbanism
![Masson Road with Peter Hall building in the Background Masson Road with Peter Hall building in the Background](https://omeka.cloud.unimelb.edu.au/constructing-change/files/thumbnails/7517bf83cf34cc430f02453dc40fedd3.jpg)
In the decade after the adoption of the first master plan, and expansion of the University across Swanston St, there was a gradual slowing of building…