Building Highlight - Chancelry Buildings

The complex of Chancelry Buildings serves as the administrative centre of the ANU. In 1963 construction commenced on the Chancelry Tower. Prior to this, the university’s administrative services were based in what became known as the Old Administration Area to the southwest of the current Chancelry near the current College of Law. The Tower would become the centre of a new administrative complex that would also include three wings. The buildings were designed by Roy Simpson of Yuncken Freeman Architects and construction was completed in four stages between 1963 and 1996. The Chancelry Tower was opened on 10 September 1964. 

Possibly the most significant space in the Chancelry Tower is the Council Suite, known as the RC Mills Room, which serves as the meeting place for the University Council and can seat up to 50 people. It was named in honour of Richard Charles Mills, an eminent Professor of Economics and Chairman of the University’s Interim Council, who played a leading role in the establishment of the University. 

The ground floor meeting room was named after Ross Hohnen, the first registrar and secretary of the ANU, who was integral to the university’s early development and was nicknamed ‘Mr. ANU’.  

The furnishings of the Chancelry Tower were designed by the ANU Design Unit, headed at the time by Derek Wrigley, and Sir Arthur Winston, Chair of Town and Country Planning at the University of Sydney. There was also input from Sir Keith Hancock, Professor of History at the Institute of Advanced Studies.   

The original Chancelry plans included an examination hall, but this was later modified and replaced with Melville Hall. 

References

Australian National University n.d., Acton Campus Site Inventory,