Queen's College is a
residential college
A residential college is a division of a university that places academic activity in a community setting of students and faculty, usually at a residence and with shared meals, the college having a degree of autonomy and a federated relationship wi ...
affiliated with the
University of Melbourne
The University of Melbourne is a public research university located in Melbourne, Australia. Founded in 1853, it is Australia's second oldest university and the oldest in Victoria. Its main campus is located in Parkville, an inner suburb no ...
providing accommodation to more than 300 students who attend the University of Melbourne, the
Victorian College of the Arts
The Victorian College of the Arts (VCA) is the arts school at the University of Melbourne in Australia. It is part of the university's Faculty of Fine Arts and Music. It is located near the Melbourne city centre on the Southbank campus of the ...
,
RMIT University and
Monash University Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences.
In addition to the students (commonly referred to as "Queeners"), Queen's College (usually known simply as "Queen's") also houses a number of fellows, resident tutors, scholars and professionals (collectively known as the Senior Common Room), staff and academic guests.
The resident tutors conduct weekly tutorials for the students on subjects that are involved in their expertise.
History
Founding
The college was founded in 1887, on of land assigned to the
Methodist Church by the
Parliament of Victoria
The Parliament of Victoria is the bicameral legislature of the Australian state of Victoria that follows a Westminster-derived parliamentary system. It consists of the King, represented by the Governor of Victoria, the Legislative Assembly an ...
in the area then known as
University Reserve (now College Crescent). While this land was allocated soon after the founding of the university in 1853, it was not until 1878—some twenty-five years later—that the Methodist Conference took the first steps towards building the college.
The then Governor of Victoria, Sir
Henry Loch, laid the foundation stone on 16 June 1887 after the efforts of the Reverend
William Abraham Quick, who is widely regarded as the founder of Queen's.
Naming
Initially, it was decided that the college was to be named Victoria College. However, when it became clear that it was to be built in the year of
Queen Victoria
Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria; 24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901) was Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death in 1901. Her reign of 63 years and 216 days was longer than that of any previo ...
's
golden jubilee, it was finalised in December 1886: "That the new College be called Queen's College in honour of the Queen's Jubilee"
Opening
Queen's opened its doors on 16 March 1889, with a total of 24 students, under the leadership of the Revd
Edward Holdsworth Sugden, who would go on to hold the position of master for over forty years. Shortly afterward, it became clear that more building was necessary, and on 20 April 1890, the South Wing was opened. Subsequent extensions were made in 1905 and in 1910 a new East Wing was created, joining the new southern wing with the original sections.
During this time (from 1897 to 1920), it is noted that "Queen's College was a veritable hothouse of dramatic activity", with plays and soirees being performed several times annually. Melbourne University Student Theatre traces its roots to this time, and it is no wonder that promotional posters from these productions still adorn the walls of the college to this day.
Expansion
Post-Great War pressures nurtured additional building plans, advocated mainly by J. T. Tweddle. The central tower (named the Sugden tower after the first master of the college, the Revd Edward J. Holdsworth Sugden) and a new northern wing, known as the Tweddle Wing, were constructed and completed in 1923. 1930 saw the introduction of a scientific laboratory (which now serves as a student recreation centre) in the southern section of the college, courtesy of A. M. and G. R. Nicholas.
From 1958 to 1978, a significant expansion and improvement programme was enacted, partly funded by the Commonwealth Government. The Raynor C. Johnson Wing, named after the college's third master and erected in the west of the college grounds, was completed in two stages. The first opened in 1961, with the second following eight years later. During the construction of the Johnson Wing, it became clear that the dining hall (which now serves as the Junior Common Room) was too small to contain the projected student body. As such, the current Eakins Hall was built, finished in 1964. The final student accommodation building, Kernick House, was completed in 1975.
In 1964, of college land was allocated for the creation of a women's college. The college, named
St Hilda's, is now a coeducational facility as by the time it was completed Queen's was also accepting both men and women as equal members.
For a decade from 1969, Queen's had also been ensuring that the pre-existing facilities would attain the same standard as the new wing. The resulting "comfortable, single bedroom studies" remain much the same format today. Also around this time, the Methodist Church merged with most parishes of the Presbyterian Church to form the
Uniting Church in Australia
The Uniting Church in Australia (UCA) was founded on 22 June 1977, when most congregations of the Methodist Church of Australasia, about two-thirds of the Presbyterian Church of Australia and almost all the churches of the Congregational Uni ...
, of which the college became an institution.
Coinciding with the college's centenary celebrations, the new Featonby Library and several tutor flats contained in Parnaby Wing were opened in 1987. More recently, the college has focused on expanding accommodation for academic visitors, postgraduate students and resident tutors, with the construction of Scott Terrace(1998), Jack Clarke and Lapthorne buildings (2000). In 2012, the Honourable
Alex Chernov AC QC, Governor of Victoria, official opened two new wings of graduate accommodation with facilities for 54 graduate residences.
Traditions
Every Monday (previously both Monday and Tuesday night) Queen's College students must wear their academic gowns and venture down to Eakins dining hall to sit for a Formal Dinner.
The Master reads out a prayer whilst all students stand. Once the prayer is finished, dinner is served.
A Queen's College traditional method of serving food is incorporated in the dinner. One end of the table serves meat, while the other serves vegetables.
A tradition brought from the Oxbridge college systems is the wearing of tweed to formal dinners, which is an optional tradition that most students no longer observe.
The "spoon-bang" is still observed with vigor at the start of formal dinners to celebrate the winning of Queen's College teams in sports, cultural and academic competitions.
Arms
The college's
coat of arms
A coat of arms is a heraldic visual design on an escutcheon (i.e., shield), surcoat, or tabard (the latter two being outer garments). The coat of arms on an escutcheon forms the central element of the full heraldic achievement, which in its ...
celebrates its founding as a
Methodist
Methodism, also called the Methodist movement, is a group of historically related denominations of Protestant Christianity whose origins, doctrine and practice derive from the life and teachings of John Wesley. George Whitefield and John's ...
institution, in the tradition of the 18th-century Anglican cleric
John Wesley. It has the following heraldic description:
:Argent, a cross sable, in each quarter three escallops of the last, for Wesley; on an escutcheon of pretence the Royal Arms of England. Crest: on a wreath and sable, a
wyvern
A wyvern ( , sometimes spelled wivern) is a legendary winged dragon that has two legs.
The wyvern in its various forms is important in heraldry, frequently appearing as a mascot of schools and athletic teams (chiefly in the United States, Un ...
proper. Motto: ''Aedificamus in aeternum''.
The actual rendering of the escutcheon uses the royal arms not
of England but
of the United Kingdom.
This is superimposed on the arms of John Wesley.
The college motto translates to "We build for eternity".
The arms were assumed without a formal grant from the
College of Arms
The College of Arms, or Heralds' College, is a royal corporation consisting of professional officers of arms, with jurisdiction over England, Wales, Northern Ireland and some Commonwealth realms. The heralds are appointed by the British Sovere ...
.
Grace
It is customary to open each formal dinner (held every Monday and Tuesday night) at Queen's with a
grace
Grace may refer to:
Places United States
* Grace, Idaho, a city
* Grace (CTA station), Chicago Transit Authority's Howard Line, Illinois
* Little Goose Creek (Kentucky), location of Grace post office
* Grace, Carroll County, Missouri, an uninco ...
.
The college's full Latin grace is as follows:
:''Domine, qui aperis manum tuam et omnia implentur bonitate,
:Benedicere dignare cibum istum
:Ut nos, ex eo gustantes,
:Inde corporis et animi accipiamus sanitatem.
:Per Jesum Christum Dominum nostrum, Amen.''
An English translation is:
:"Lord, you open your generous hand
:And the whole world is filled with good things.
:Please bless this food we are about to eat,
:So that we may have healthy bodies and healthy minds,
:Through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen."
An English grace was composed by Henley in 1995, with the proviso that the Latin grace be retained at least once per week.
Head of college
Masters
* The Revd
Edward Sugden (1887 - 1928)
* The Revd Frederick Walwyn Kernick (1929 - 1933)
* John F. Foster (1933 - 1934) - acting master
*
Raynor Johnson (1934 - 1964)
* The Revd Norman Edgar Lade (1964 - 1965) - acting master
*
Owen Parnaby (1966 - 1986)
* George A. M. Scott, FLS (1986 - 1992)
* Jack William Clarke, OAM (1992) - acting master
* The Revd John A. Henley, (1993 - 2001)
*
David T. Runia,
FAHA (2002 – 2016)
* Dr Stewart Gill, OAM (2017–present)
Vice-masters
* Jack Clarke (1964 - 1989)
* Philip Creed (1989 - 1991)
* Robert Nethercote (1991 - 2002)
* Phillip Mosley (2002 - 2014)
Deans
Dean of Students (known as Dean of Wellbeing 2014 - 2017)
* Dr Tim Corney (2015 - 2016)
* Jacob Workman (2017 - 2019)
Dean of Academic Programs (known as Dean of Studies 2014 - 2017)
* Dr Brenda Holt (2015 - 2016)
* Jacob Workman (June 2016)
* Dr Sally Dalton-Brown (2017 - 2021)
* Campbell Bairstow (2021)
cting* Dr Lesa Scholl (2021-Present)
Notable alumni
"Wyverns" are residents, past or present, who have lived in the college for six months or more. The
Wyvern Society is responsible for allowing the continued communication of former Queen's students and organising reunions.
Notable Wyverns include:
*
David Penington (former Vice-Chancellor of the
University of Melbourne
The University of Melbourne is a public research university located in Melbourne, Australia. Founded in 1853, it is Australia's second oldest university and the oldest in Victoria. Its main campus is located in Parkville, an inner suburb no ...
, former dean of its School of Medicine)
*
Roy Wright (former Chancellor of the
University of Melbourne
The University of Melbourne is a public research university located in Melbourne, Australia. Founded in 1853, it is Australia's second oldest university and the oldest in Victoria. Its main campus is located in Parkville, an inner suburb no ...
)
*
Geoffrey Blainey
Geoffrey Norman Blainey (born 11 March 1930) is an Australian historian, academic, best selling author and commentator. He is noted for having written authoritative texts on the economic and social history of Australia, including '' The Tyranny ...
(historian)
*
Ian Potter
Sir William Ian Potter (25 August 190224 October 1994), known as Ian Potter, was an Australian stockbroker, businessman and philanthropist. Potter was knighted in 1962. The Ian Potter Foundation, which he established in 1964, has made grants t ...
(businessman and philanthropist)
*
Harold Holt (former Prime Minister of Australia)
*
Brian Howe (former Deputy Prime Minister of Australia)
* Surgeon Rear Admiral Lionel Lockwood (former Director-General of Naval Medical Services)
*
Cyril P. Callister (inventor of Vegemite)
*
Red Symons (musician and comedian)
*
Alan Hopgood
Alan John Hopgood AM (29 September 1934 – 19 March 2022), also known as Alan Hopwood, was an Australian actor, producer, and writer. He wrote the screenplay for the 1972 film '' Alvin Purple'' and made appearances in television shows such as ...
(writer and actor)
*
John Holland (engineer and construction magnate)
*
Merlin Crossley
Merlin Crossley is an Australian molecular biologist, university teacher and administrator. In 2016, he was appointed as Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) at the University of New South Wales.
Early life and career
Crossley attended Mount View Pr ...
(biochemist)
*
Kathy Watt
Kathryn ("Kathy") Ann Watt (born 11 September 1964) is an Australian racing cyclist who won two medals at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain (gold in the road race, and silver in the pursuit).
She has won 24 national championships ...
(cyclist)
*
Ismail Abdul Rahman
Tun Dr. Ismail bin Abdul Rahman ( ms, إسماعيل بن عبدالرحمن, label= Jawi, script=arab, italic=unset; 4 November 1915 – 2 August 1973) was a Malaysian politician who served as the second Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia from ...
(former Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia)
*
Mustapa Mohamed (current Minister of Trade of Malaysia)
*
Rod Sims
Rodney Graham "Rod" Sims (born 1950) is an Australian economist and former public servant. Sims served as chair of the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC), Australia's competition regulator, from 1 August 2011 to 20 March 2022. ...
(Economist and current
Australian Competition & Consumer Commission
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) is the chief competition regulator of the Government of Australia, located within the Department of the Treasury. It was established in 1995 with the amalgamation of the Australian Trad ...
chairman)
Rhodes Scholars
*
Peter H. Bailey AM OBE, Queen's 1945, Rhodes Scholar 1950
* S. E. K. Hulme AM QC, Queen's 1948, Rhodes Scholar 1952
* John R. Howes, Queen’s 1953, Rhodes Scholar 1957
* Wilfrid R. Prest, Queen’s 1959, Rhodes Scholar 1962
* Michael C. Garner, Queen’s 1978, Rhodes Scholar 1984
* P. Merlin Crossley, Queen’s 1982, Rhodes Scholar 1987
* Matt Wenham, Queen’s 2004, Rhodes Scholar 2004.
* Michiel le Roux, Queen's 2003, Rhodes Scholar 2006
Fellows
Queen's has a body of 24 fellows and a smaller body of honorary fellows. Fellows of Queen's College are not actively engaged in teaching the students. Instead, they are men and women who have distinguished themselves through their contributions to academic studies general contributions society. The chief task of the fellows is to advise the master on academic affairs and giving of scholarships to students of the college. They are led by the principal fellow.
References
Bibliography
*
Queen's College Handbook 005
''005'' is a 1981 arcade game by Sega. They advertised it as the first of their RasterScan Convert-a-Game series, designed so that it could be changed into another game in minutes "at a substantial savings". It is one of the first examples of a ...
& 2006
*
Queen's College, University of Melbourne - A Centenary History, Owen Parnaby, Melbourne University Press, Carlton, Melbourne - first edition , 1990
*
Trinity College Act (1927)
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* History of Melbourne University Student Theatre
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External links
Queen's College Website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Queen's College (University Of Melbourne)
Residential colleges of the University of Melbourne