Welcome to the hotel academia

In fifty years, it has developed a reputation as a home away from home for former prime ministers, judges and scholars. Traditional values, a unique atmosphere and a highly selective clientele have made The Australian National University’s University House truly unique.

To call University House a hotel is to compare it with the mass-produced, soulless accommodation one finds in every city in the world — the type of blandly comfortable place that makes it hard to distinguish a stay in Shanghai from a night in Washington. The word ‘hotel’ does not do University House justice. It is true that it boasts a high standard of service, a smart restaurant, a relaxed bar and comfortable rooms, but it is not like other hotels — it is unmistakably University House.

At the centre of ANU life for 50 years, University House regularly entertains former Prime Ministers, is home to some 50 postgraduate students, is a thriving staff club and a venue for dinners, graduations and lectures.

A series of events is underway to mark the House’s Golden Jubilee and a book charting the first 50 years has been commissioned and will be published in November.

The book will concentrate on the people who built the House, both literally and figuratively, with author Jill Waterhouse interviewing more than 200 people in her research. Among those interviewed are the labourers who worked on the site in 1954, current staff and the House’s first resident, Martin Ward, son of furniture designer Fred Ward — the latter of whom equipped the House with its distinctive chairs and tables.

“University House has an atmosphere that is hard to define, but what I think it comes down to is the opportunity to meet interesting people,” Ms Waterhouse says.

“It has a tremendous international reputation and as a ceremonial centreI think it would be hard to replace or improve what we have now.”

Master of University House, Professor John Richards, says he counts himself fortunate to lead what is clearly a unique part of ANU.

“There is a spirit to University House built by all those students, staff and famous Australians who have been associated with it. It would be impossible to re-create what we now have 50 years after its foundation.”

The formal component of the celebrations was launched by the Vice-Chancellor on 16 February with the Founder’s Day Cocktail Party. The gathering was also addressed by Chancellor Emeritus Professor Peter Baume, who read a message from the Duke of Edinburgh, who opened the House on 16 February 1954.

A program of lectures is also running to mark the birthday, covering the War on Terror, Climate Change and Republicanism among other topics.

Meet some of the faces of University House....

www.anu.edu.au/unihouse

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