Building Highlight - Copland Building

Building Australia's National University: 75 Years of the Australian National University

In 1963 the National Capital Development Commission selected a design by Richard Meldrum and Partners Architects for a new Faculty of Economics Building, to be constructed by A.V. Jennings. Construction commenced in October 1963 with Kingsley Street closed to through traffic to allow for the development of the courtyard.  

The building was completed over three years, but before its completion the decision was made to name the building after Sir Douglas Copland, the ANU’s first Vice-Chancellor (1948-53). Copland was a renowned economist who was appointed Professor of Economics at the University of Tasmania at the age of just 26. Amongst his other accomplishments, he was the first Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Commerce at the University of Melbourne, co-founder of the Economic Society of Australia and New Zealand, Commonwealth Prices Commissioner, Australian High Commissioner to Canada, member of the Australian Delegation to the first United Nations General Assembly, Vice President of the United Nations Economic and Social Council and founder of the Committee for Economic Development of Australia (CEDA).   

The building was completed in 1966 and initially housed the university’s Departments of Economics, Economic History, Political Science, Statistics and Accountancy. The Department of Geography was also temporarily housed in the building, until the Faculty of Law moved in, with funding not devoted to a dedicated law building until 1967.    

In April 1967 the building was informally opened in the presence of Lord Florey (ANU Chancellor) and Sir Douglas Copland. Two years later construction commenced on the Copland Lecture Theatre, again designed by Richard Meldrum and Partners Architects, with work completed on this addition in 1970.    

The Copland Building later housed the ANU College of Business and Economics, the School of Economics and Applied Statistics, and the Division of Information – Space Services Program. 

 

References

Australian National University n.d., Acton Campus site inventory,

Harper, M 1993, Sir Douglas Berry Copland, Australian Dictionary of Biography,

 

Copland Building, undated (ANUA16-409).

Copland Building, undated (ANUA16-409).

Copland lecture theatre, April 1974 (ANUA226-298). Photographer: ANU Photographic Services.

Copland lecture theatre, April 1974 (ANUA226-298). Photographer: ANU Photographic Services.

Copland Building, March 1966 (ANUA15-102-34). Photographer: Commonwealth News and Information Bureau.

Copland Building, March 1966 (ANUA15-102-34). Photographer: Commonwealth News and Information Bureau.

Sir Douglas Copland speaking at the opening of the Copland Building, 11 April 1967 (ANUA 226-412). Photographer: The Canberra Times

Sir Douglas Copland speaking at the opening of the Copland Building, 11 April 1967 (ANUA 226-412). Photographer: The Canberra Times

Sculpture 'The Great Gate' by Inge King in the courtyard of the Copland Building, 1971 (ANUA 226-25). Photographer: Ted Richards, ANU Photographic Services.

Sculpture 'The Great Gate' by Inge King in the courtyard of the Copland Building, 1971 (ANUA 226-25). Photographer: Ted Richards, ANU Photographic Services.