Building Highlight - Vice-Chancellor's Residence
Located on the Acton Campus at 21 Balmain Crescent, the Vice-Chancellor’s Residence was designed by Kenneth Oliphant and Professor Brian Lewis in 1951.
The residence was constructed in the post-war period of materials rationing. In its early stages the design was regarded as comfortable but reflecting the austerity of the post-war period. It is a relatively simple two-storey home with a single storey wing. The grounds did include a pool, but this was later filled in and replaced by gardens.
The house has had successive alterations but has retained much of its original design. In 1967, Yuncken Freeman Architects extended the drawing room and added a breakfast room on part of the rear terrace. Windows to the ground floor sitting room were lowered and the ensuite bathroom was remodelled. The original sewing room was identified as a sitting room and a new partition was added to the attic above the kitchen.
In 1982, Eggleston, McDonald and Secomb Architects further modified the house. The remaining south western wall of the drawing room was removed and replaced with a heavy beam to open the room into one undivided space. The sewing/sitting room and adjacent bedroom were modified to form a large sitting room in the northern corner and a small bedroom in the western corner. Remodelling was also conducted on the bathrooms and kitchen.
The building has provided accommodation for successive Vice-Chancellors for over sixty years.
References
Godden Mackay Logan Heritage Consultants 2012, ANU Heritage Study: Acton Campus. Volume 1: Heritage Study, https://services.anu.edu.au/files/document-collection/Volume_1_of_the_ANU_Acton_Campus_Heritage_Study.compressed.pdf
Dexter, D 1991, The ANU Campus, Australian National University Press, Canberra.
Banks, J & Gaardboe, M 1996, Building and Landscapes: the Australian National University, Canberra, ANU Divisions of Facilities and Services and Public Affairs, Canberra.
