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Newman College, Melbourne

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Coordinates: 37°47′42″S 144°57′49″E / 37.7950°S 144.9636°E / -37.7950; 144.9636
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Newman College
University of Melbourne
Location887 Swanston St, Parkville, Victoria, Melbourne
Coordinates37°47′42″S 144°57′49″E / 37.7950°S 144.9636°E / -37.7950; 144.9636
MottoLuceat Lux Vestra
Motto in EnglishLet Your Light Shine
Established1918
ArchitectWalter Burley Griffin
Architectural styleArt Deco
ColoursBlue, Green and White
GenderCo-educational
RectorFrank Brennan SJ AO
Undergraduates220
Postgraduates80
Tutors50
Websitenewman.unimelb.edu.au
Newman College Chapel
The Mannix wing faces Swanston Street
Interior of the dining room

Newman College is an Australian Roman Catholic co-educational residential college affiliated with the University of Melbourne. It houses about 220 undergraduate students and about 80 postgraduate students and tutors.

The college is named after John Henry Newman, a former Anglican and major figure in the Oxford Movement who became a Catholic in the 19th century. Although affiliated with the University of Melbourne, a small number of students attend the Australian Catholic University, RMIT University and Monash University's Parkville campus.

The college motto is Luceat Lux Vestra, translated from Latin as "Let Your Light Shine".

Student life

Facilities

The majority of undergraduates live in the Carr and Mannix wings, which flank the domed dining room and are connected by a parapet. Undergraduates also live in the balcony rooms in Donovan wing, and in Fleming House at 950 Swanston St. Graduate students are accommodated in a variety of terrace houses opposite the college on Swanston St and in self-contained apartments behind the Donovan wing.

Students' Club

All undergraduate members of Newman College are accepted into the Newman College Students' Club, a self-governing incorporated organisation which runs day-to-day and special events in the college. A general committee is elected annually. The portfolios include vice-president, secretary, community service, culture, equity and female and male sports representatives.

Postgraduates

All members of the college administration, as well as tutors, academics in residence and postgraduate students (and some senior undergraduate students), comprise the Senior Common Room (SCR). Like the Students' Club, the SCR annually elect a president, secretary and treasurer, among other portfolios, to organise several events throughout the year.

Co-curricular activities

The college places a strong emphasis on participation in co-curricular activities, with music, sport and the dramatic arts playing a large role in life at Newman. Soirées are held many times throughout the year, showcasing the talents of the students, with the Peter L'Estrange SJ Prize awarded to the best performing artist in college. The Michael Scott SJ Prize is the annual art competition. The Albert Power SJ Medallion for Debating is named after Newman's second rector, Albert Power SJ. The Choir of Newman College, established in 2002, is a chapel and concert choir.[1]

Newman has a strong sporting culture, having won more than half of the intercollegiate football premierships ever played. The college is also a strong participant in intercollegiate art, music and culture events, winning the 2022 Intercollegiate Culture Cup.

Scholarships and Bursaries

Newman awards financial aid in the form of scholarships and bursaries to around 75% of residents. Scholarships are awarded to both domestic and international students, of total value of up to $10,000.[2]

Newman applicants may also apply for the University of Melbourne Residential College Access Scholarship, which supports Indigenous students and regional students from a disadvantaged financial background to stay in college during their degree.[3]

Public seminars

The college hosts regular Irish studies seminars which are open to the public.

Daniel Mannix Memorial Lecture

The Archbishop Daniel Mannix Memorial Lecture was started by the Students' Club in 1977 and is a highlight of the university and college calendar. It is named in honour of the third Archbishop of Melbourne, who was a driving force behind the formation of the college and for improving the opportunities of Catholic students. Past lecturers have included Malcolm Fraser, Kim Beazley, Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen, Patrick Dodson, Ita Buttrose, Sir Gustav Nossal, Alexander Downer, Manning Clark, Peter Garrett, Christine Nixon, Justice Alastair Nicholson and Tanya Plibersek.[4]

Endowed chairs

Newman College hosts a number of endowed chairs at the University of Melbourne. They include the Gerry Higgins Chair of Irish Studies, the Gerry Higgins Lecturer in Philosophy, the Gerry Higgins Lecturer in Medieval Art History, the Gerry Higgins Lecturer in Shakespeare Studies and the Gerry Higgins Chair of Positive Psychology.

Buildings

Newman College
Dining room façade
Map
Former namesRoman Catholic College
General information
TypeResidential college
Architectural styleGothic Revival Chicago influence
Address887 Swanston Street, Parkville
Town or cityMelbourne
CountryAustralia
Construction startedApril 1916
CompletedMarch 1918
OwnerRoman Catholic Trusts Corporation
Design and construction
Architect(s)Walter Burley Griffin; Marion Mahony Griffin
Main contractorBart Moriarty
Awards and prizesAustralian Institute of Architects (Victorian Chapter) Heritage Architecture Award 2010
Designations
References
[5]

The original set of campus buildings were built during 1916 to 1918 and were designed by American architects Walter Burley Griffin and Marion Mahony Griffin. The Burley Griffins also designed furniture for the college, including distinctive chairs, tables and bookshelves for the dining room and the original bedrooms of the college. Much of this furniture remains in day to day use at the college, but some of it has found its way into various art galleries and private collections.[6] This was recognised by its inclusion on the Australian National Heritage List on 21 September 2005, citing "one of the best examples of Griffin’s architecture in Australia" and "Newman College is significant as an outstanding expression of Griffin’s architectural style".[7] The stonework has had substantial renovation to repair over 80 years of damage through exposure and natural degradation of the original stone and received the Australian Institute of Architects (Victorian Chapter) Heritage Architecture Award 2010.[5]

Allan & Maria Myers Academic Centre

The Allan & Maria Myers Academic Centre is a library shared by St Mary's College and Newman College. It is open to students 24 hours a day. It offers a program of public events and hosts several special collections that are available to researchers.[8]

The centre houses the Newman College Irish collection (O'Donnell Collection), which was formed in 1924 with a bequest to the college. It originally consisted of around 700 books and 300 pamphlets, many in the Irish language, which were the personal library of Nicholas O’Donnell, a Melbourne Irish language scholar of the early 20th century. Around half the collection consists of historical works. The rest deals with language, literature, biography, religion, politics, description and travel, with some works on music and a few on education.

Every year an O'Donnell Fellowship is bestowed on a visiting scholar so that the holder may do research in the O'Donnell Collection.

Administration

At its opening in 1918 the administration of the college was entrusted to the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) who continue its administration to the present day.

The college council, chaired by the Archbishop of Melbourne, oversees the governance of the college. Members include the Rector, the other three diocesan bishops of Victoria (Sandhurst, Ballarat and Sale dioceses), college alumni and members of the university. Members are appointed by the Archbishop. Each year the Provost selects two students to be members as student representatives. The presidents of the Students' Club and SCR are observers who reports to the council on the life of the college.

The college council has instituted the positions of Provost, Deputy Provost, Dean of Studies, and Dean of Students to oversee the everyday administration of the college. The Rector remains the official head of the college. These positions are currently held by:

  • Rector: Very Reverend Frank Brennan SJ AO
  • Provost: Dr Guglielmo Gottoli
  • Deputy Provost: Mrs Rebecca Daley
  • Dean of Studies: Mrs Charlotte O'Shea
  • Dean of Students: Mrs Alicia Deak

The college chaplain, and Operations Manager are also members of the college administration.

Rectors

Dome of Newman College

As of 2023, the Rector of the college is Frank Brennan SJ AO, an Australian Jesuit priest, human rights lawyer and academic.

Order Title Rector Term start Term end Time in office Notes
1 The Very Rev. James O'Dwyer SJ 1918 1919 0–1 years
2 The Very Rev. Albert Power SJ 1919 1923 3–4 years
3 The Very Rev. Jeremiah Murphy SJ 1923 1954 30–31 years
4 The Very Rev. Philip Gleeson SJ 1954 1961 6–7 years
5 The Very Rev. Michael Scott SJ 1961 1968 6–7 years
6 The Very Rev. Gerald Daily SJ 1968 1977 8–9 years
7 The Very Rev. Brian Fleming SJ 1977 1986 8–9 years
8 The Very Rev. William Uren SJ 1987 1990 2–3 years
9 The Very Rev. Peter L'Estrange SJ 1991 2005 13–14 years Moved to Campion Hall, Oxford
10 The Very Rev. William Uren SJ AO 2006 2019 17–18 years Remained a scholar-in-residence
11 The Very Rev. Frank Brennan SJ AO 2020 present 3–4 years

Notable alumni

Notable alumni of the college include:

See also

References

  1. ^ "The Choir". Newman College. Retrieved 24 December 2019.
  2. ^ Aldons, Anushka (20 October 2022). "Newman College Scholarships". The University of Melbourne Scholarships. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
  3. ^ Westerink, Robert (7 October 2022). "Residential College Access Scholarship Package". The University of Melbourne, Scholarships. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
  4. ^ "SPEECH – TANYA PLIBERSEK – THE 38TH ARCHBISHOP DANIEL MANNIX LECTURE – MELBOURNE – WEDNESDAY, 23 MARCH 2022". www.tanyaplibersek.com. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
  5. ^ a b Martin, Eric; Turnbull, Jeff; Eric Martin and Associates (25 September 2000). "Newman College, University of Melbourne: Architectural Heritage" (PDF). RAIA UIA Nominations. Australian Institute of Architects. Archived (PDF) from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
  6. ^ "Burley Griffin chair from Newman in the Art Gallery of South Australia". Archived from the original on 25 July 2008. Retrieved 2 August 2008.
  7. ^ "Newman College (Place ID 105739)". Australian Heritage Database. Australian Government. 21 September 2005. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
  8. ^ "Site of the Allan and Maria Myers Academic Centre". Archived from the original on 4 May 2013. Retrieved 5 May 2013.
  9. ^ Newman News. 51 (1): 5 https://newman.unimelb.edu.au/uploads/newman-news/Newman-News-Autumn-2019.pdf. Retrieved 11 July 2019. {{cite journal}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  10. ^ Walter, Catherine; Stephens, Tony (26 January 2008). "A brilliant career interrupted by war". Obituaries: The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 29 January 2008. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
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