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.
Architect Bates Smart & Osborn McCutcheon
A centenary history of the University of Melbourne / Geoffrey Blainey. A short history of the University of Melbourne, Stuart Macintyre and R.J.W. Selleck Architecture on Campus / Philip Goad & George Tibbits The University of Melbourne : a centenary portrait / arranged and illustrated by Norman H. Olver ; narrative by Geoffrey Blainey. Wilson Hall : Centre and symbol of the University / by R.M. Crawford. “Wilson Hall,” Docomomo Australia
Year Architect Work 1952-56 Bates Smart & McCutcheon Designed & Constructed
Predecessor: Wilson Hall 1882 Architectural Style: Modernist Material: Cream Coloured Bricks Critical Moment: Re-built after fire
Wilson Hall opened in 1882, and was named for Sir Samuel Wilson, pastoralist and politician, who had bequeathed money for its construction. It was designed by Joseph Reed in the Gothic perpendicular style and was described by George Tibbits as “the architectural jewel of the nineteenth century university,” and as the University’s “soul”. On the 25th of January, 1952, Wilson Hall was destroyed in less than an hour by a fire, possibly caused by an electrical fault.
Architect Joseph Reed
A short history of the University of Melbourne, Stuart Macintyre and R.J.W. Selleck Architecture on Campus, Philip Goad & George Tibbits The University of Melbourne : a centenary portrait / arranged and illustrated by Norman H. Olver ; narrative by Geoffrey Blainey. University of Melbourne sketchbook / text by John Bechervaise ; drawings by Bill Beasley. Wilson Hall : Centre and symbol of the University / by R.M. Crawford.
Laying of Memorial Stone in 1879 Opened in 1882
Year Architect Work 1875-82 Joseph Reed Designed & Constructed 1952 After the fire it was demolished and New Wilson Hall was built
Successor: Wilson Hall 1956 Architectural Style: Gothic Perpendicular Material: Sandstone Critical Moment: Destroyed by fire
University House was the first professorial house built on the campus in 1884 for Professor Nanson (Mathematics). An additional six were built in 1887 where the Baillieu Library now stands. University House is the only remaining professorial house of those six.
Architect Reed, Anketell Henderson & Smart
Architecture on Campus / Philip Goad & George Tibbits The University of Melbourne : a centenary portrait / arranged and illustrated by Norman H. Olver ; narrative by Geoffrey Blainey. University Archives, History of the University of Melbourne. Key 22: The Professors' Houses 1884 University of Melbourne sketchbook / text by John Bechervaise ; drawings by Bill Beasley. Victorian Heritage Register. University House
University House Year Architect Work 1884 Reed, Henderson & Smart Designed & Constructed 1953 Roy Grounds Minor renovations 1959 Grounds Romberg & Boyd Main dining room 1965-66 Rae Featherstone West extension, main lounge 1969 Rae Featherstone East extension, east dining room 1993 Tony Di Mase and Franco Di Stefano Entrance lobby
Material: Red Bricks
The picturesque Lake was incrementally filled and eventually converted into the Union Lawn. The filling of the lake began during the construction of the New Chemistry Building in 1930s. The New Chemistry Building was supposed to be built in a more southerly location but it was moved during the phase of the rectangularisation of campus. As a result, the edge of the New Chemistry Building was aligned with the Old Geology Building from the south edge, which meant the new site sat on the existing lake. That portion of the lake was later filled in. Later, a portion of the eastern edge was filled during the construction of the Old Commerce building and hence the lake became smaller and smaller and eventually filled in and converted into a lawn, named after the Union House that sat in the western edge of the lawn.
Architecture on Campus / Philip Goad & George Tibbits
Predecessor: The Lake Critical Moment: Filling of the Lake
The site of Union House was originally the location of the National Museum of Victoria. It became the home of the University Of Melbourne Student Union in the early 20th century, with the first renovations taking place in 1938 to "improve and extend" the building, including the addition of a theatre. It was extensively remodelled in 1968 to become a modernist building, with very little trace of its Gothic Revival origins.
Architect Philip Burgoyne Hudson (design architect), Gawler & Drummond (supervising architects)
The University of Melbourne : a centenary portrait / arranged and illustrated by Norman H. Olver ; narrative by Geoffrey Blainey. The University of Melbourne : an illustrated perspective / John Béchervaise. University of Melbourne, Faculty of Arts. Digital Studio. Union House tour
Year Architect Work 1936-38 Philip Burgoyne Hudson (design architect), Gawler & Drummond (supervising architects) Designed & Constructed 1964, 1977, 1980 Eggleston MacDonald & Secomb Additions 1987, 1997 Peter Elliot Pty Ltd stair, western terrace and cafe 1995-98 Bates Smart internal refurbishment, verandah to North Court 2001 John Wardle Architects sunshade, North Court
Architectural Style: Modernist Material: Straw Coloured Bricks Critical Moment: Conversion of the National Museum
The Quadrangle was initially built to provide housing for four professors, teaching spaces and a board room in the East and West Wings, with the foundation stone being laid in 1854. Construction of the North Wing began in 1856, and provided lecture theatres, a museum and later, space for a library. A South Wing was finally completed in 1969, fully enclosing the Quadrangle. It is the oldest non-ecclesiastical Gothic revival structure in Victoria. The Old Quad has undergone several restoration projects over its history, the most recent being in 2019.
A short history of the University of Melbourne, Stuart Macintyre and R.J.W. Selleck A history of the University of Melbourne, Ernest Scott The old quadrangle and north extension : University of Melbourne : conservation analysis and policy / prepared by George Tibbits and Graham Wark. The University of Melbourne : a centenary portrait / arranged and illustrated by Norman H. Olver ; narrative by Geoffrey Blainey. The Quadrangle : the first building at the University of Melbourne / George Tibbits. Lovell Chen (2019), The Old Quadrangle: Retrofitting a significant heritage building to Passive House EnerPHit standard University of Melbourne (2020) Old Quad: our history University of Melbourne (2020) Old Quad Restoration University of Melbourne sketchbook / text by John Bechervaise ; drawings by Bill Beasley. Victoria Heritage Register. Law School Building and Old Quadrangle
Foundation Stone: 1854 Construction started: 1856 South Wing completed: 1969
Year Architect Work 1854-55 Francis Maloney White east and west wings including vaulted tunnels 1856-57 Francis Maloney White north wing including vaulted north cloister 1874-75 Reed & Barnes north extension 1924-25 Public Works Department north wing gutted, redesigned as General Library 1930 Gawler & Drummond south extensions to east and west wings, and east and west vaulted cloisters 1970 Rae Featherstone and Berg & Alexandra south wing undercroft and council chambers 1982 Mockridge Stahle & Mitchell vaulting to 1970 wing
Architectural Style: Tudor Gothic Material: Sandstone
Built in 1864, the National Museum was the result of Professor Frederick McCoy's persistence and enthusiastic building of a scientific collection. The National Museum collection was moved to the Public Library after Professor McCoy's death in 1899 and the building was used first by the Conservatorium of Music, and then by the Student Union. Very little of the original building now remains.
A centenary history of the University of Melbourne / Geoffrey Blainey. Architecture on Campus / Philip Goad & George Tibbits A short history of the University of Melbourne, Stuart Macintyre and R.J.W. Selleck The old quadrangle and north extension : University of Melbourne : conservation analysis and policy / prepared by George Tibbits and Graham Wark. University of Melbourne Archives. Key 10: Professor Frederick McCoy, the National Museum 1856 and the System Garden 1861
Year Architect Work 1863 Reed & Barnes Designed & Constructed 1936 Converted into Union House
Successor: Union House Architectural Style: Gothic Revival Critical Moment: Converted into Modern Building
The University of Melbourne was established on swampland, fed by creeks. A creek, known as Townend Creek, flowed along what became Elizabeth Street, out into the Yarra, it was an extension of another stream that began inside the University, and flowed down what is now Bouverie Street. Prior to European settlement, the site of the lake was a swampy area, significant to the Indigenous inhabitants, that linked into the adjacent creek (under what is now the site of the MSD Building). The creek was dammed in 1861 and the resulting lake became a central and much-loved feature of the campus; used for yabbying, mock battles and boat races, as well as being a site of protest and punishment. The lake was progressively filled in during the 1930s Initially, the areas not occupied by buildings became lawn, and then, in the late 1960s, in the wake of the 1968 revolutions overseas, as part of the “riot-proof campus”, the lawns were dug up and replaced by “a seemingly random asymmetrical selection of tiled and concrete rectangles.” This was variously known as both the Union Lawn and the Concrete Lawn, and still plays an important part in University life as a place where students meet and University events occur.
Landscape Architect Edward La Trobe Bateman
Architecture on Campus / Philip Goad & George Tibbits Gary Presland, The Place for a Village: How Nature Has Shaped the City of Melbourne (Melbourne: Museum Victoria Pub., 2008), 71, 87. Fiona Johnson and Jillian Walliss, “Reconciling History: Inserting an Indigenous Space into the University of Melbourne Campus,” Landscape Review 15, no. 1 (2014). Thornton McCamish, The University of Melbourne: A Visitor’s Guide (Carlton, Vic: Miegunyah Press, 2008), 89. Johnson and Walliss, “Reconciling History,” 54. Farrago, Friday 3rd April 1970, 2.
Year Architect Work 1856 Edward La Trobe Bateman
Successor: Union Lawn/ Concrete Lawn Critical Moment: Filled and converted into lawn
Established in 1856, "In the north-west corner of the site (campus grounds) was another striking feature, the system garden, a botanical garden created by Bateman and the Professor of Natural Science, Fredrick McCoy." (Goad & Tibbits, 2003, pp. 15).
Landscape Architect Edward La Trobe Bateman with Professor Fredrick McCoy
Year Architect Work 1856 Edward La Trobe Bateman and Professor Fredrick McCoy 1866-75 Reed & Barnes Brick tower and glass house, since demolished
"The first glimpse of the Master Plan 1970 was realised in the South Lawn and Underground Car Park" (Goad & Tibbits, 2003, pp.131) The car park was constructed in 1971 to cope with the demand for student and staff parking on campus. It has been a popular location for filming, the best known example being its use in the film, Mad Max.
Bryce Mortlock (master planner), Loder & Bayley (structural engineers) with Harris, Lange & Partners, Rayment & Stones (landscape architects)
A short history of the University of Melbourne, Stuart Macintyre and R.J.W. Selleck The University of Melbourne : an illustrated perspective / John Béchervaise. Architecture on Campus / Philip Goad & George Tibbits Victorian Heritage Register. Underground Car Park South Lawn Underground Car Park Construction Drawings Classroom to campus : the heritage of modern education : papers, international symposium 26-28 November 2012
Year Architect Work 1970-72 Bryce Mortlock (master planner), Loder & Bayley (structural engineers) with Harris, Lange & Partners Rayment & Stones (landscape architects) Designed & Constructed
Aerial View of the campus from the west side, Royal Parade with the New Medical Precinct under construction, and the completed Redmond Barry Building. An increase in high rise and modernist buildings is clearly visible.
A short history of the University of Melbourne / Stuart Macintyre and R.J.W. Selleck.
Aerial view of the campus taken in 1956 from the north of the campus with colleges, oval and university with city and suburbs in background. The Beaurepaire Centre is under construction and additional storeys are being added to New Arts (Babel) building. The new Wilson Hall is already built.
In this time period there were visible changes being made in the larger campus planning. Public Works Department Chief Architect, Percy Everett, attempted to rectangularise the campus building clusters.
Several master plans were proposed by the Professor of Agriculture, Thomas Cherry and Professor of Anatomy, Richard Berr. Eventually, an architect, George de Lacy Evans, was hired to propose another master plan. None of these plans were ever implemented. It was later decided to consult the Government Architect.
Before the Parkville site, the site proposed for the University was on Spring Street, where the Treasury Building now stands. This proposal was rejected and another proposal was made and granted for the current site in the same year, 1853. In the initial proposal, a total of 100 acres of undeveloped land was requested in the north of the city, but only 25 acres were granted.
The planning and development of the University of Melbourne : an historical outline, George Tibbits A short history of the University of Melbourne, Stuart Macintyre and R.J.W. Selleck
The Redmond Barry building opened in 1961. "Designed (by staff architect, Rae Featherstone) to provide low-cost expansion for both humanities and science departments, the former North building, renamed the Redmond Barry Building in honour of the founding Chancellor, It was one of the earliest realisations of Brian Lewis's 1948 master plan that aimed at placing tall buildings around the perimeter of the site so as to keep the traditional centre of the university open." (Goad & Tibbits, 2003, pp. 110)
Architect Rae Featherstone with Eggleston MacDonald & Secomb
Architecture on Campus / Philip Goad & George Tibbits The University of Melbourne : an illustrated perspective / John Béchervaise.
Year Architect Work 1959-61 Rae Featherstone with Eggleston MacDonald & Secomb Designed & Constructed
Architectural Style: Modernist
Formerly known as the Anatomy building, and later the Richard Berry Building. This building was renamed in December 2016 after Peter Hall, researcher in probability theory and mathematical statistics. The renaming (from the Richard Berry building) was part of a campaign to make the campus more inclusive and to celebrate Peter Hall's legacy and his contribution to scholarship at the University.
Architect Samuel C. Brittingham assisted by Alfred R. LaGreche (Public Works Department)
Year Architect Work 1919-23 Public Works Department: Samuel C. Brittingham assisted by Alfred R. LaGerche Designed & Constructed 1995 Peter Elliot Pty Ltd Refurbishment 1997 Paterson & Pettus Courtyard
Architectural Style: Collegiate Gothic Material: Red Bricks
Built in the era of expansion, 1938-1940, "The Commerce building was designed to incorporate an architectural gift to the University, the 1856 facade of the Bank of new South Wales in Collins Street, demolished in 1932 ... " (Goad & Tibbits, 2003, pp. 81). The building was used by the Architecture, Building and Planning Faculty until it was demolished (except for the facade) in 2012.
Architect Percy Everett (Public Works Department) (West facade, 1856), Architect Joseph Reed
The University of Melbourne : an illustrated perspective / John Béchervaise. Architecture on Campus / Philip Goad & George Tibbits University of Melbourne sketchbook / text by John Bechervaise ; drawings by Bill Beasley. The University of Melbourne : a centenary portrait / arranged and illustrated by Norman H. Olver ; narrative by Geoffrey Blainey.
Year Architect Work 1938- 40 Public Works Department: Percy Everett, Joseph Reed (west facade 1856) Designed & Constructed 1992-93 Peter Elliot Pty Ltd internal refurbishment 2012 Demolished Old Facade integrated in the new ABP Building
Architectural Style: Classic Moderne Material: Cream Coloured Bricks
Formerly known as Arts and Education building the Old Arts building was designed by the Victorian Department of Public Works and constructed between 1919 and 1924. It became known as Old Arts when the nearby Babel, or "new" Arts Building opened in the mid 1940s.
Architecture on Campus / Philip Goad & George Tibbits University Archives, Keys to the past: Key 49: New Arts Building (Old Arts Building) 1923 Victorian Heritage Register. Old Arts Building
Year Architect Work 1919- 24 Public Works Department: Samuel C. Brittingham assisted by Alfred R. LaGerche Designed & Constructed
The Chemistry Building was designed by Percy Everett in 1938, during a period of expansion on the Parkville campus. Everett was, at the time, employed by the department of Public Works. The interior of the building was designed to facilitate chemistry research.
Architect Percy Everett (Public Works Department)
Architecture on Campus / Philip Goad & George Tibbits The University of Melbourne : a centenary portrait / arranged and illustrated by Norman H. Olver ; narrative by Geoffrey Blainey. Victorian Heritage Database, Chemistry Building, University of Melbourne
Year Architect Work 1938 Public Works Department: Percy Everett Designed & Constructed 1963 Stephenson & Turner East addition 1970-71 John F.D. Scarborough Penthouse Labroratory
Architectural Style: Collegiate Gothic Material: Cream Coloured Bricks