University House, Australian National University

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url=http://heritage.anu.edu.au/index.php?pid=1293
month = October
day = 4
year = 2008
time = 18:08
timestamp = 20081004180808

Description

University House (also known as "UniHouse" and abbreviated as "UH") is the oldest residential hall of the Australian National University, in Canberra, Australia, firstly admitted postgraduate students in 1954, and is now housing about 60 doctoral students. As a university accommodation, University House accepts only full-time PhD students of the ANU and occasionally visiting PhD scholars from other university upon its availability. Despite its initial purpose of housing research students and faculty members in a learning academic and social environment influenced by Oxbridge collegiate system, University House is at the present time also operating as a hotel while maintaining student accommodation in its South and Garden Wings.

Inspired by a formal hall of the Oxbridge colleges, University House initially required its student to attend formal dinner every evening as a social event amongst its students and faculty members. This kind of formal dinner disappeared in the 1970s and changed into a more informal and relaxing environment later on. To continue such a tradition, University House runs a semi-formal dinner each Wednesday evening for members of the House, academic visitors to the University, and for long-term residents. Often there is a lecture or other key event associated with the dinner. There are also special Wednesday evening dinners for the University’s postgraduates, to mark graduation in July and December and celebrate Christmas. Moreover, students who submit their thesis are encouraged to give a short address to the Wednesday dinner and as an opportunity for their friends and UH committee to congratulate their success before leaving the House.

Recently, Graduate House has been incorporated into a part of the University House community, though a separate routine administration still continues. Graduate House has a further 150 postgraduate coursework and research students so that together both are a group of more than 200 students with the common goal of postgraduate study at the Australian National University.

History

Professor Brian Lewis of Melbourne University was a consultant to the Building and Grounds Committee and prepared a master plan, for the University in 1947 that commenced the development program. In the master plan University House featured as a large building for accommodation, Faculty Club, Schools of Social Sciences and Pacific Studies, library and administration offices.

Lewis consulted with Academic Advisers at the London School of Economics in January 1948 on University design issues. The advisers and Lewis agreed that it was desirable to have the primary function of University House as a faculty club without the inclusion of research schools further agreeing that the character and construction of all buildings in the campus should be unpretentious without extravagance. In April 1948 the Academic Advisory Committee met in Canberra with the Interim Council, with priority given for the development of University House, the Research Schools for Medicine and Physics and some houses for senior staff. A revised plan for University House was presented and soon after agreed by the Council.

The site for University House was on the ridge and marked the edge of the new campus area. A dromona green granite foundation stone for University House was laid by the Hon. J.J. Dedman, Minister for Post-War Reconstruction, in 1949. The design ideal was to reflect the ancient collegiate system with the intention that all the teachers and students live in the community in University House. The building was constructed by Howie Moffat under the direction of Lewis.

Frederick Ward was selected to design the furniture for the building and more than four thousand pieces of furniture were made to Ward's design. He lightly stained the timbers allowing the variety of colours in the natural woods to complement the subtle colours of the soft coverings.

Grounds and gardens were developed under the direction of Lindsay Pryor, Superintendent of Parks and Gardens, who was a member of the Buildings and Grounds Committee. Isolated eucalypts of the original vegetation were retained around the building. Pryor suggested that planting material in the University be strictly limited in variety so that a simple and effective result is achieved. He also recommended a number of species of eucalyptus be used. Much of planting around University House, the Central Courtyard and the Fellows Garden was achieved by Pryor by on-site laying out with a minimum of detailed approval by the University or bureaucracies. Pryor originally proposed formal rows of trees but this layout was modified to informal clumps of trees in lawns by the Master of the House, Dale Trendall.

It was proposed in the 1950s that University House would be a repository of modern art, and two major works, 'Relaxation' by Gerard Lewers, and the untitled floor of the entrance hall by Frank Hinder, were in place when University House was officially opened on 16 February 1954, by the Duke of Edinburgh. Other artwork consists of the sculptures 'Conjugation' by Mark Grey-Smith on the front lawns and 'Swans in Flight', the Theaden Hancock Fountain, by Gerard Lewers in the Ladies Lounge Garden. In 1972 Leonard French painted the mural 'Regeneration' on the end wall of the Hall. In 1996 University House purchased the Leonard French series 'The Journey' consisting of ten panels that are installed on the walls of the hall.

University House was open for students in 1954 and for its first decade, residence at the House was compulsory for unmarried doctoral students. The tariff included all meals and formal dinners were held each evening. Student numbers began to drop off during the 1970s and when Elliott was Master the formal Oxbridge influence had all but disappeared. The cellar bar was built in the basement to cater for staff, students and visitors. By 2001, University House was also being run like a guest house/hotel with dining room dinners once a week.

The Masters of the House have been notable academics and have initiated minor changes to the building and grounds as required, and directed the acquisition of art. The building has been the residence of people important in Australia's history. For example, following his dismissal as Prime Minister in 1975, Gough Whitlam lived in University House for six months.

Heritage Listings

University House is regarded as a heritage building in Australia and ACT. It is listed as following:
- Royal Australian Institute of Architects
- ACT Heritage Register
- Commonwealth Heritage List
- National Trust of Australia (ACT) Classification List

Miscellaneous

The landscaping of University House consists of plantings around the building and the enclosed and semi-enclosed garden spaces; the Quadrangle Garden, the Fellows Garden and the Ladies Lounge Garden. The Quadrangle Garden is simply planted. The major feature is the reflecting pool which extends in a curve against the terrace paving and the groups of trees Betula sp. (Birch), Liquidamber styracaflua, Platanus orientalis (Planes) and two specimens of Gingko biloba (Maidenhair fern trees). The ginkos, planted in 1953, are the oldest known surviving trees of the species in Canberra. The female of the pair fruited for the first time in 1985. Other notable trees are the Tilia europea on the lawns to the south of the Great Hall. Also on the southern lawn is a commemorative English Oak, Quercus robur planted by Australia's distinguished academic Sir Keith Hancock, grown from an acorn brought by him from Cambridge. It commemorates an association between the Australian National University and Cambridge, England.