University Heritage Walk: Keith takes a walk in the Adelaide City region of South Australia
The grand buildings on North Terrace make an appropriate backdrop for the pomp and ceremony of graduation days. We were lucky enough to be there as the proud former students filed into imposing Bonython Hall.
Inside, the proceedings unfold under the austere gaze of the man who gave the university this suitably grand hall - Sir John Langdon Bonython. He was a man who played a big role in the development of the University of Adelaide - but there were a few that came before him so to find out more I enlisted the help of Robina Weir, one of the Heritage Tour Guides.
And there's plenty to see - especially since North Terrace has been opened into such a wide - wonderful boulevard lined with a trio of heritage buildings Uni buildings which have strong links to South Australia's early fortunes.
Robina Weir, Heritage Tour Guide: "For many years people had to send their young men to Sydney or Melbourne or Great Britain to have a tertiary education so it was decided that Adelaide needed a University of its own."
Enter the University's first benefactor, Sir Walter Watson Hughes. A canny Scot, he became fabulously wealthy courtesy of the giant copper mine at Wallaroo. That was good news for the Uni when he generously gave it 20-thousand pounds as a 'founding gift'.
Robina Weir, Heritage Tour Guide: "That's why his statue is out the front. But it wasn't the university that put him here, it was his descendants. They paid for the beautiful statue and we still remember him as the first benefactor of the university."
Thanks to his generosity the University flourished - so, it needed a permanent home.
Robina Weir, Heritage Tour Guide: "That brings us to the Mitchell Building. It was the original building of the university. It's now call the Mitchell Building but it was always known as just the University Building. Everything happened in this building - the lectures, the laboratories, the professor's rooms - everything happened in this building."
In its formative years classes were held all over the city until the Mitchell Building opened in 1882. It was the first to be built in the University grounds. But by 1900 it was squeezy - 465 students and 10 staff crammed in here. The building's named after Professor William Mitchell - Vice-Chancellor, Chancellor, philosopher and original thinker.
The next in our ensemble is Elder Hall - the university's first building to be funded directly through philanthropy.
Robina Weir, Heritage Tour Guide: "This is the next great building and the original great hall of the university. The money from this hall came from Sir Thomas Elder. He was also a Scotsman who gave money to give to the colony."
That's why he's honoured with a statue as well. Sir Thomas Elder, yes also of Elder Park fame made his money in mining and giant pastoralist runs - he was also the one who brought camels into Australia! He loved music too, which explains his 20-thousand pound bequest in his will in 1897 to build Elder Hall as a permanent home to the Elder Conservatorium of Music.
Robina Weir, Heritage Tour Guide: "Elder Hall was the original great hall of the university and the public can come in now of Fridays during semester time to share in the music that's played here."
Now for the final flourish of our heritage tour - the very prominent Bonython Hall. In 1930 Sir John Langdon Bonython, gave 50-thousand pounds for the construction of a 'Great Hall'. Now it only opened in our centennial year, 1936 - but it looks like it's been here for centuries!
Robina Weir, Heritage Tour Guide: "They wanted a medieval style building. It had to be great and grand - something like you'd see in Oxford or Cambridge that was part of the deal for this building. That's what he wanted."
And he got it! It's a masterpiece of cunning design - the Murray Bridge Limestone cladding pulls off the medieval style beautifully. Those hulking arched timber beams in the roof hide the steel trusses above. And the unusual sloping floor? Well, Sir Langdon ordered the hall be used for ceremonial purposes - not for such frivolities as dancing!
So there's a lot to take in on your next stroll along the new look North Terrace.
Robina Weir, Heritage Tour Guide: "I think it's wonderful that the university is now available for people to walk by, they walk in and see these magnificent buildings and feel part of the history of Adelaide and the University of Adelaide."
It's a long time since the Cornish miners were down the shaft at Wallaroo, the sheep drovers were pushing their flocks through to the north and the cameleers were at work even further into the outback. But they helped make the money, which then built these first great three buildings of the University of Adelaide. They truly are part of South Australia's heritage."
The volunteers run Heritage Walks every Tuesday morning from 10.30 but you'll need to book on 8303 6356.
University of Adelaide Heritage Walks
10.30 Tuesdays
Bookings 8303 6356.Published 7th September 2008
