News

Books launched for 150th

[ UniNews Vol. 12, No. 8  19 May - 2 June 2003 ]

Former Chancellor Sir Edward Woodward has formally launched four important new books showcasing the history, architecture and cultural collections of the University of Melbourne.

BookLaunchT152-105_rt.jpgThe launch of Architecture on Campus: A Guide to the Buildings of the University of Melbourne and its Colleges (Philip Goad and George Tibbits); A Short History of the University of Melbourne (Stuart Macintyre and Richard Selleck), The Shop: The University of Melbourne, 1850-1939 (R J W Selleck) and Treasures: Highlights of the Cultural Collections of the University of Melbourne (ed. Chris McAuliffe and Peter Yule) was part of the University’s 150th Anniversary celebrations during the weekend of 10–11 May.

Around 200 people attended the book launch at the Woodward Conference Centre.

Sir Edward gave an insightful account of various features of the books, drawing attention to elements such as the inclusion of good maps in the architecture book, the variety and interest captured in the 300 items included in Treasures, and the ‘complete honesty’ of the two histories.

He noted that in The Shop one theme was the constant tension between the professors and the Council members, and that “interesting, perceptive and fair” summaries of the role and conduct of salaried Vice-Chancellors were a feature of the Short History.

He pointed out that the two histories, with Geoffrey Blainey’s Centenary History and John Poynter and Carolyn Rasmussen’s A Place Apart “make up a set which should last the University for many years … I cannot see that any later writer need return to the 19th or 20th centuries”.

Sir Edward said that he was “pleased and proud to launch all four of these fine publications which reflect great credit on their authors and contributors and also on Melbourne University Publishing”.