Newman College, Melbourne Explained

Newman College
Shield:Newman_College_shield.jpg
University:University of Melbourne
Location:887 Swanston St, Parkville, Victoria, Melbourne
Coordinates:-37.795°N 144.9636°W
Motto:Luceat Lux Vestra
Motto Lang:la
Motto English:Let Your Light Shine
Founders:-->
Established:1918
Namesake:-->
Architect:Walter Burley Griffin
Architectural Style:Art Deco
Colours:Blue, Green and White
Gender:Co-educational
Rector:Daniel Madigan
Membership:-->
Undergraduates:220
Postgraduates:80
Res Tutors:50

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.

Archbishop 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, Daniel Mannix, who was a driving force behind the formation of the college and for improving the opportunities of Catholic students.

The second lecture, by Sir Zelman Cowen, also marked the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the foundation of Newman College.[4] His lecture was later republished as a book on Sir Isaac Isaacs by Melbourne University Press in 1979.[5] Similarly, Sir Bernard Callinan's lecture was later published as a book on Sir John Monash.[6] [7]

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.[8]

!Year!Speaker!Topic
1977Bartholomew Augustine SantamariaArchbishop Mannix and his contribution to the art of public leadership in Australia
1978Sir Zelman CowenSir Isaac Isaacs[9]
1979Sir Paul HasluckSir Robert Menzies and his contribution to the art of public leadership in Australia[10]
1980Sir Bernard CallinanSir John Monash
1981Ranald MacdonaldDavid Syme
1983Sir Ninian Stephen[11] George Higinbotham
1987Malcolm FraserSir Robert Menzies: in search of balance[12]
1988Sir Harry GibbsSir Samuel Griffith
1991John RalphSir Maurice Mawby
1994Alexander Downer[13]
2016Tim CostelloSocial justice, equality and individual leadership
2022Tanya PlibersekContemporary Australian politics and political leadership[14]
This memorial lecture is not to be confused with the annual Newman Lecture held at Mannix College at Monash University.

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
Former Names:Roman Catholic College
Building Type:Residential college
Architectural Style:Gothic Revival Chicago influence
Address:887 Swanston Street,
Location City:Melbourne
Location Town:-->
Location Country:Australia
Start Date:April 1916
Completion Date:March 1918
Destruction Date:-->
Owner:Roman Catholic Trusts Corporation
Architect:Walter Burley Griffin
Marion Mahony Griffin
Main Contractor:Bart Moriarty
Awards:Australian Institute of Architects (Victorian Chapter) Heritage Architecture Award 2010
Unit Count:-->
References:[15]

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.[16] 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".[17] 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.[15]

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.[18]

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:

The college chaplain and operations manager are also members of the college administration.

Rectors

As of 2024, the rector of the college is Daniel Madigan, a Jesuit priest, Islamic Studies scholar, academic.

OrderTitleRectorTerm startTerm endTime in officeNotes
The Very Rev. James O'Dwyer 1918 1919 years
The Very Rev. 1919 1923 years
The Very Rev. Jeremiah Murphy 1923 1954 years
The Very Rev. Philip Gleeson 1954 1961 years
The Very Rev. Michael Scott 1961 1968 years
The Very Rev. Gerald Daily 1968 1977 years
The Very Rev. Brian Fleming 1977 1986 years
The Very Rev. William Uren 1987 1990 years
The Very Rev. 1991 2005 years Moved to Campion Hall, Oxford
The Very Rev. William Uren 2006 2019 years Remains a scholar-in-residence
The Very Rev. 2020 2023 years Moved to Brisbane[19]
12The Very Rev.Daniel Madigan 2024present

Notable alumni

Notable alumni of the college include:

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The Choir. Newman College. en. 2019-12-24.
  2. Web site: Aldons . Anushka . 2022-10-20 . Newman College Scholarships . 2023-07-25 . The University of Melbourne Scholarships . en.
  3. Web site: Westerink . Robert . 2022-10-07 . Residential College Access Scholarship Package . 2023-07-25 . The University of Melbourne, Scholarships . en.
  4. News: 1978-05-19 . Gov-Gen. 'Mannix' speaker . 2 . Australian Jewish News . 2023-12-15.
  5. News: 1979-05-03 . SIR ZELMAN’S BIOGRAPHY REPUBLISHED . 8 . Australian Jewish Times . 2023-12-15.
  6. News: 1982-05-20 . BOOK REVIEW . 12 . The Australian Jewish Times . 2023-12-15.
  7. Book: Callinan, Berard . Sir John Monash . Melbourne University Press . 1981 . 0522842348 . Carlton, Victoria.
  8. Web site: SPEECH – TANYA PLIBERSEK – THE 38TH ARCHBISHOP DANIEL MANNIX LECTURE – MELBOURNE – WEDNESDAY, 23 MARCH 2022 . 2023-07-25 . www.tanyaplibersek.com . en.
  9. News: 1978-05-12 . WATCHMAN'S IN THE NEWS Paris Tevye . 4 . Australian Jewish News . 2023-12-15.
  10. News: 1979-06-29 . Politicians 'aided by set of political principles' . 8 . Canberra Times . 2023-12-15.
  11. News: 1983-09-14 . VICE-REGAL . 2 . Canberra Times . 2023-12-15.
  12. Web site: 2016-07-02 . The Daniel Mannix Memorial Lecture - Sir Robert Menzies: In Search of Balance . 2023-12-14 . Archives and Special Collections . en.
  13. News: 1994-09-22 . Downer's federalism 'deal' . 8 . Canberra Times . 2023-12-15.
  14. Web site: Archbishop Daniel Mannix Lecture . 2023-12-14 . Newman College . en.
  15. Web site: Newman College, University of Melbourne: Architectural Heritage . RAIA UIA Nominations . . 25 September 2000 . 18 June 2016 . Martin, Eric . Turnbull, Jeff . Eric Martin and Associates . https://web.archive.org/web/20160304043357/http://architecture.com.au/docs/default-source/act-notable-buildings/newman_college.pdf?sfvrsn=2 . 2016-03-04 . live .
  16. Web site: Burley Griffin chair from Newman in the Art Gallery of South Australia . 2008-08-02 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080725061242/http://www.artgallery.sa.gov.au/TLF/886f2a/ . 2008-07-25 . live .
  17. 21 September 2005. 18 June 2016.
  18. Web site: Site of the Allan and Maria Myers Academic Centre. . 2013-05-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130504110207/http://www.snac.unimelb.edu.au/ . 2013-05-04 . live .
  19. Web site: Bowling . Mark . 22 August 2023 . Return of the Jesuits: a new ‘community of communities’ for Brisbane .
  20. Newman News . 51 . 1 . 45, 8, 38, 52 . Newman . 11 July 2019.
  21. News: A brilliant career interrupted by war . . 26 January 2008 . 18 June 2016 . Walter, Catherine . Stephens, Tony . https://web.archive.org/web/20080129234022/http://www.smh.com.au/news/obituaries/a-brilliant-career-interrupted-by-war/2008/01/25/1201157665271.html . 2008-01-29 . live .