Building Highlight - Ursula Hall, John XXII College and Burgmann College

Ursula Hall

Ursula Hall was designed by the architectural firm Fowell, Mansfield, Jarvis & Maclurcan and officially opened by Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser in October 1968.  

Ursula Hall was initially only open to female residents, but in the early 1970s it became the first women’s student residence in an Australian university to open up residency to male students. In an interview in 1977, the College’s first Principal, Sister Angela Cooney, explained the motivation for doing so was inspired by the founder of the Ursuline Order, Sister Angela Merici, who had said “Be always aware of the needs of the times and the need to change accordingly” (Walker 2011, p.34). This progressive thinking also had obvious financial benefits and also assisted the University in meeting a shortfall in on-campus student accommodation.  

In 2009 the Lauris Wing of Ursula Hall opened, providing accommodation for postgraduate students.  

John XXIII College

John XXIII College was established as a student residence under the Dominican Order of the Catholic Church and was named in honour of Catholic Pope John XXIII (1958-63). The Order operated other university student residences including Mannix College at Monash University and St Albert’s College at the University of New England.  

The building, and neighbouring Chapel of St John the Evangelist, were designed by Kevin J Curtin & Partners in 1968 and officially opened in 1969.  

Burgmann College

Designed by Dirk Bolt and Associates in 1971, Burgmann College was developed in conjunction with the Anglican Diocese of Canberra-Goulburn to provide an inter-denominational student residence on the ANU Campus. The name Burgmann College was selected in honour of the previous Anglican Bishop of Goulburn and Canberra-Goulburn, Ernest Henry Burgmann, who was involved in a range of social and political issues and instrumental in promoting theological research and education (Walker 2011, p.32). 

When the College opened in 1971, it was the first church-sponsored residential college in Australia to be designed and built as a fully integrated co-residential institution (Walker 2011, p.36).   

References

Walker, I 2021, Enriching the experience and intellectual life of the University: An overview of and reflection on the foundation and role of residential halls, colleges and lodges at the Australian National University, accessed