Wilson Hall, 1956

Wilson Hall Fire 1952
Old Wilson Hall during demolition, University of Melbourne, Victoria.
New Wilson Hall North facade
New Wilson Hall

Title

Wilson Hall, 1956

Description

Opened in 1956, Wilson Hall, is the location for university ceremonies such as graduations and conferral 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. Wilson Hall remains a monument to the role of the ‘great hall’ in the life of the University, hosting graduations, exams, concerts, enrollments, and events such as career expos and rare book fairs.

Creator

Architect Bates Smart & Osborn McCutcheon

Date

1952

Contributor

Year Architect Work
1952-56 Bates Smart & McCutcheon Designed & Constructed

Relation

Predecessor: Wilson Hall 1882
Architectural Style: Modernist
Material: Cream Coloured Bricks
Critical Moment: Re-built after fire

Citation

Architect Bates Smart & Osborn McCutcheon, “Wilson Hall, 1956,” Constructing Change: the evolving Parkville campus , accessed December 28, 2024, https://omeka.cloud.unimelb.edu.au/constructing-change/items/show/9.

Output Formats

Geolocation