More than six years after it was severely damaged in a hailstorm, the ceremonial and social heart of the Australian National University (ANU) is reopening in time for celebrations marking the University’s 80th anniversary.
University House will be officially reopened on Friday 14 August, ahead of an ANU campus community day on Saturday 15 August.
The roof of the heritage-listed building was shattered in the January 2020 Canberra hailstorm and a subsequent downpour of rain caused extensive interior damage. Planning for restoration work was complicated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Master of University House, Professor Peter Kanowski, said the building had been painstakingly restored to respect and enhance its iconic Mid-Century Modern heritage features.
“University House is ready to resume its place in the life of the ANU and the broader Canberra community,” Professor Kanowski said.
“University House was opened in 1954 by Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, and in the decades since has been both the ceremonial and social heart of the ANU, for staff, graduate students, academic visitors, and the Canberra community.
“Now that the restoration work is complete, we are delighted to be able to welcome back the ANU community, and our wider community in Canberra and across Australia and the world, in time for celebrations of the University’s 80th anniversary,” Professor Kanowski said.
Restored University House to reopen for ANU 80th birthday celebration