Adelaide Mitchell Building
Foundation stone 30 Jul 1879 by Governor William Jervois, architect William McMinn, partly completed building in use from March 1881, official opening 5 Apr 1882. It provided rooms & laboratories for classes in natural science, mathematics, English literature, classics, law, chemistry & music until 1900 when Elder Hall built for music. A library on first floor was also used for degree ceremonies. In 1961 named Mitchell Building for Professor Sir William Mitchell, Vice Chancellor 1916-1942, Chancellor 1942-48. First classes had been held in Grote St training school for teachers, Victoria Square & various locations.
“With a degree of pomp and ceremony befitting the importance of the occasion, the foundation-stone of the University of Adelaide was laid by the Governor of South Australia, Sir William Jervois, on the afternoon of Wednesday, July 30. . . the Act of Parliament under which the University was incorporated was passed in October, 1874; that the Senate was formed in May, 1877; that the four Professors have for some time past been regularly conducting their classes. . . The foundation-stone is of marble, and resits on a base of Sydney freestone.” [Register 31 Jul 1879]
“We are glad to see that part of the new University buildings on North terrace has been handed over by the architect, and that it is expected the whole will be completed in July. In consequence of this the class-rooms in Victoria-square have already been given up, which will effect a very considerable saving.” [Advertiser 29 Jan 1881]
“University of Adelaide. A meeting of the members of the council and senate of the University was held at the new University buildings, North-terrace, on Wednesday afternoon, April 6. . . The edifice was not yet completed.” [Advertiser 7 Apr 1881]
“the opening of the handsome new buildings on North-terrace, which have been built for the accommodation of the hitherto somewhat scattered classes of students attending University lectures. . . It is now exactly ten years ago since the question of founding an establishment wherein the higher branches of education should be taught was taken into serious consideration by delegates appointed from the various religious bodies, the result of which was the foundation of Union College; but the gift of £20,000 by Captain Hughes, which was some time afterwards supplemented by a similar amount from Sir Thomas Elder, changed the current of opinion among men interested in education in the colony, and instead of establishing what would be a merely Theological College they determined to found a University. An Act of Parliament incorporating the institution was passed in 1874, and the Government endowed the institution with 50,000 acres of land, granted five acres on the Park Lands for a building, and undertook to supplement all private contributions to the extent of 5 per cent.” [Register 6 Apr 1882]
“The building is designed in the modern Gothic style. . . The upper floor, or library front, has five large two-light traceried windows, with columns of red stone, which have been imported from Dumfries, Scotland. . . The front or ground floor has four two-light windows, with, columns of brown-coloured stone, and the principal doorway in the centre is protected by an open stone porch, with clustered pillars of red stone at the entrance. . . The front or principal portion of the building has been executed in Sydney white stone, having rubbed surfaces. Bands of darker tinted stone are introduced in the height and in the arches of the window openings. The dressings throughout the remainder of the building are to be of Sydney stone, the general face of the walls being built of pick-dressed freestone from Teatree Gully. The stone carving throughout the exterior and interior has been especially artistically carried out, being the work of Mr. W. J. Macwill [Maxwell], sculptor.” [Evening Journal 6 Apr 1882]
Adelaide Mitchell Building
Foundation stone 30 Jul 1879 by Governor William Jervois, architect William McMinn, partly completed building in use from March 1881, official opening 5 Apr 1882. It provided rooms & laboratories for classes in natural science, mathematics, English literature, classics, law, chemistry & music until 1900 when Elder Hall built for music. A library on first floor was also used for degree ceremonies. In 1961 named Mitchell Building for Professor Sir William Mitchell, Vice Chancellor 1916-1942, Chancellor 1942-48. First classes had been held in Grote St training school for teachers, Victoria Square & various locations.
“With a degree of pomp and ceremony befitting the importance of the occasion, the foundation-stone of the University of Adelaide was laid by the Governor of South Australia, Sir William Jervois, on the afternoon of Wednesday, July 30. . . the Act of Parliament under which the University was incorporated was passed in October, 1874; that the Senate was formed in May, 1877; that the four Professors have for some time past been regularly conducting their classes. . . The foundation-stone is of marble, and resits on a base of Sydney freestone.” [Register 31 Jul 1879]
“We are glad to see that part of the new University buildings on North terrace has been handed over by the architect, and that it is expected the whole will be completed in July. In consequence of this the class-rooms in Victoria-square have already been given up, which will effect a very considerable saving.” [Advertiser 29 Jan 1881]
“University of Adelaide. A meeting of the members of the council and senate of the University was held at the new University buildings, North-terrace, on Wednesday afternoon, April 6. . . The edifice was not yet completed.” [Advertiser 7 Apr 1881]
“the opening of the handsome new buildings on North-terrace, which have been built for the accommodation of the hitherto somewhat scattered classes of students attending University lectures. . . It is now exactly ten years ago since the question of founding an establishment wherein the higher branches of education should be taught was taken into serious consideration by delegates appointed from the various religious bodies, the result of which was the foundation of Union College; but the gift of £20,000 by Captain Hughes, which was some time afterwards supplemented by a similar amount from Sir Thomas Elder, changed the current of opinion among men interested in education in the colony, and instead of establishing what would be a merely Theological College they determined to found a University. An Act of Parliament incorporating the institution was passed in 1874, and the Government endowed the institution with 50,000 acres of land, granted five acres on the Park Lands for a building, and undertook to supplement all private contributions to the extent of 5 per cent.” [Register 6 Apr 1882]
“The building is designed in the modern Gothic style. . . The upper floor, or library front, has five large two-light traceried windows, with columns of red stone, which have been imported from Dumfries, Scotland. . . The front or ground floor has four two-light windows, with, columns of brown-coloured stone, and the principal doorway in the centre is protected by an open stone porch, with clustered pillars of red stone at the entrance. . . The front or principal portion of the building has been executed in Sydney white stone, having rubbed surfaces. Bands of darker tinted stone are introduced in the height and in the arches of the window openings. The dressings throughout the remainder of the building are to be of Sydney stone, the general face of the walls being built of pick-dressed freestone from Teatree Gully. The stone carving throughout the exterior and interior has been especially artistically carried out, being the work of Mr. W. J. Macwill [Maxwell], sculptor.” [Evening Journal 6 Apr 1882]