P E R I O D I C A L N E W S L E T T E R O F THE GRADUATE UNION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE INCORPORATED PRINT POST APPROVED PP337834/00022 REGISTERED ASSOCIATION No. A0023234B NOVEMBER 2003 VOLUME 56 No. 4
www.graduatehouse .com.au
CONTENTS Calendar of Events
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New Members
2
Valete
2
Profile: Dr John Binns 3 Book Review
3
Residents & Members 4 Letters
5
From the Archives
6
Property Development Report
8
Donations to the Building Appeal
8
CONSTRUCTION OF ‘THE NEW GRADUATE HOUSE’ After the uncertainty surrounding the proposed $250M redevelopment of University Square in Carlton five years ago, harmonious and consensual conclusion was reached at 12 noon on Wednesday, 1 October 2003. In the company of Professor Alan Gilbert, Vice-Chancellor of The University of Melbourne, the guest speaker for the day, the first sod was turned to mark the commencement of the New Graduate House. Gwen Northey, still a regular luncheon attender and Graduate Union’s longest-serving active member and Sieh Ng, the current Residents’ Representative, broke the ground on the site to celebrate the start of construction scheduled for Monday, 13 October 2003. Many members were present to mark the occasion, together with representatives from The University of Melbourne, Architects Perrott Lyon Mathieson, and Mr Allen Ashworth from Contract Control Constructions, the successful tenderers. A champagne toast completed the short ceremony.
(l to r) Dr David Bellair, Seih Ng, Gwen Northey, Frank Lees and Professor Alan Gilbert (Photo: Peter Casamento)
OCTOBER LUNCHEON
THE GRADUATE UNION of The University of Melbourne Inc.
Frank Lees, President of the Graduate Union, introduced Professor Alan Gilbert, Vice-Chancellor of The University of Melbourne, who reflected on the growth of the University in recent decades and the development of University Square.
The presence of the Victoria Bowling Club for around 125 years had impeded the University’s desire to develop the Square. There had been lengthy discussions with the Graduate Union about the development of its facilities.
Aside from the CSIRO, The University of Melbourne is the second-largest research institute in Australia, with an annual research budget of $360m, attracting scholars and prominent researchers throughout the world, united in a common search for truth. The research facilities at the University have attracted Nobel Laureates and there are fifty doctoral research students at the Florey Institute.
With the expansion of some faculty buildings into University Square, Professor Gilbert felt that the new Graduate House and its modern facilities for postgraduate scholars would complete the Square as a suitable extension of the University’s Melbourne campus. He described University Square as ‘the most pleasing educational precinct i n a ny A u s t r a l i a n university’.
Professor Gilbert congratulated the Graduate Union on its decision to build a new residential facility for postgraduate students on the site of the former Kidd’s Warehouse. The development of University Square had been a long and arduous process. Redmond Barry, in the 1860s, had fought for many years to have the area gazetted as ‘University Square’.
Professor Alan Gilbert addresses the luncheon November 2003 volume 56 no. 4
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