Wilson Hall Fire
Re-opened in 1956, Wilson Hall, has long been the location for university ceremonies such as graduations and conferrals of office. It was designed by Bates, Smart and McCutcheon architects in the ‘International style’ and is one of several significant post-war buildings on campus, and the first to be built after 1945.
The new building replaced the 1882 original, destroyed by fire on the 25th of January, 1952. It was built on the original foundation walls and incorporated elements of the original, such as stone rosettes. It was officially opened in March, 1956. The impressive glass wall on the east side let in so much sunlight that full-length curtains had to be installed.
Original Wilson Hall by Joseph Reed.
The Wilson Hall timber roof caught fire on 25 January 1952.
The fire did major damage to the structure of the building and was rendered not strucurally safe, it was later demolished.
The New Wilson Hall was a Modernist architectural piece.