Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), Tuesday 12 June 1883, page 9


TRINITY COLLEGE.

THIS CLARKE BUILDINGS..

The addition to the Trinity College, which consists of a handsome block to be styled the "Clarke Buildings,' in compliment to the two brothers, Sir Wm and Mr Joseph Clarke, is now completed, and will be ready for occupation at the commencement of the approaching July term The total expenditure: involved in the extension will be about £11000, and the structure forms a very substantial and effective part of the college plan which, when fully developed in years to come, will constitute an imposing series of Gothic buildings, having three quadrangle and a line from 600ft in length facing the Sydney-road The buildings, it is expected, will bear favourable comparison with some of the famous collegiate institutions in the great seats of learning in Europe,

So far the progress of Trinity College, which remained for several years the only university college in the colony has been eminently satisfactory. In 1859, Bishop Perry us BiBted by the late Professor Wilson and other leading members of the Anglican Church, begun the task of raising the required funds A Crown grant of land, 10 agree, to the north of the University reserve, was subsequently obtained, and in February, 1870, the foundation stone of the first building was laid Before the end of 1877 the structure then existing, which may now be described as the Warden's House, was found to be insufficient, and under the architectural,

direction of the late Mr. Wyatt, further buildings were raised These, which are henceforth to be denominated the ' Bishops' Buildings," in recognition of the great and active interest taken in the college by the present and the former Bishop of Melbourne, enabled the authorities to receive 25 students. For some time the necessity) for another wing has been felt, as all the students seeking admission could not be provided with residence, and several who have been entered as students have had to be lodged outside in houses licensed by the college and under collegiate control When last year the need of further extension became most apparent, Mr Joseph Clarke came forward with the munificent offer of £5 000, and encouraged by this and other donations amounting to £1,500 the council decided to enter on the erection of the structure now under notice, which they resolved to name the "Clarke Buildings " Sir Wm Clarke had not then associated him self with this special work : still he had proved an invaluable friend to the college, for his contributions had amounted to about £3,000 in all, and the council there fore aimed at doing honour to him as well as to Mr Joseph Clarke, in designating the new building as they had done Now, however, that the building is reared, Sir William becomes, in even a more marked sense, connected with it as he has just announced his intention of subscribing £3 000 towards its cost This gratifying decision was made known a few days ago to the warden ( Mr Leeper) at the close of a visit of inspection paid by Sir William Clarke to the new edifice with the appearance of which he expressed himself as being highly pleased. It should be added that Mr Joseph Clarke has promised a further contribution of £1,000 to the building fund, so that the entire cost of the extension (£11 000) is practically covered The increased room supplied by this enlargement of the premises brings up the available accommodation of the college to SO resident students As there are now on the books of the institution 43 students including the non-residents, who are attending the lectures, it is anticipated that before the end of the year the whole of the additional space will be taken up

The progress which the college has made would seem to indicate very clearly that the collegiate system in affiliation with the University is taking firm root here On this point it may not be out of place to say that many persons entertain erroneous ideas recording the scope and working of such an institution as 'I trinity College By some it is thought that this college is only a theological school It 10 perfectly true, that through the exertions of Bishop Moorhouse a faculty of theology has been established in the college, in accordance with the design of the foundation, and the bishop requires, as a rule, that candidates for ordination shall become resident students at the college, but the primary purpose of the institution is that of a university college exactly similar to the colleges of Oxford and Cambridge pre paring students not only for holy orders, but for other learned professions The propriety of founding what is called a non sectarian college in association with the University is occasionally mooted, but the fact is that the colleges already existing, although established by denominations are so liberally administered that members of other denominations can fully enjoy their advantage A considerable proportion of the students both at I nulty College and the adjoining Ormond College, belong to religious denominations other than those of the Church of England and the Presbyterians At the present time several of the open scholarships at Trinity are held by students who are not attached to the Church of Eng

land

The new Clarke Buildings of the College are of brick and stone, and of a design in harmony with the older pile-the Bishops ".mldings-with which there is, of course, communication The plans prepared by the late Mr H T' Blacket, the designer of Sydney University and the Anglican Cathedral at far does, provide for the in at the north side of a quadrangle, but though the foundations for the whole length of the north side (215ft ) have been find, only about three fourths of the building, or 370ft in length, have been included as the present undertaking a he edifice has a width of 16, and it contains a porch li x 10, lobby 11 x 8, which is separated from the hall by a framed screen, glazed with plate glass The hall is 11ft wide, with corridors on each side 6ft wide, and from it a staircase of polished cedar ascends to the upper door 'Ihobedroomaandaictingroomalor the students (there is one sittingroom for every two residents), are larger and better, fitted than those in use in the older building, and it is intended to appropriate them when so desired to the seniors Ventilation has been carefully attended to, and in each of the bed-rooms water is laid on The sittingrooms, which are 12 in number, are each 12ft by 12ft 6in and the bedrooms, 20 in number, 12ft 6in by 3ft 6in The rooms on the ground floor are lift in height, and those on the upper floor 12ft There are five wellappointed bathrooms in the building, each 12ft by 6ft 6in and each Hat has on it a sortants papers, from which will be served luncheon for the students' rooms Au hydraulic lift from the coal cellar passes through these last mentioned rooms At the east end of the building is the " common room, ' a hand some apartment 30ft by 20ft , having a large bay window at the north side It is the desire of the officials of the college to omit nothing which will render the institution a most attractive home for the students, and the room here set apart for their social intercourse is also intended for reading and for club meetings Over it is it room of similar proportions This room is for billiards, and it has an open timbered roof of Oregon wood and kauri pine artistically wrought and varnished The cloister which will run round the whole of the quadrangle when completed is 16ft in width, and has a varnished kauri pine roof, supported by stone pillars, having richly carved capitals and settlement parapets 'The foundations are of a remarkably substantial character, viz , bluestone ashlar with a hum fered house The walls are of Hawthorn bricks with Wawn Ponds stone dressings Upon the stone work of the windows some uri usually tasteful ornamentation has been bestowed The gables have Waurn Ponds copings, with wrought copier finials The flooring throughout is of kauri pine, and the corridors and bulls have a dado of wrought deal varnished Both internally and externally the structure which is an example of 14th century Gothic presents all the indications of having been very faithfully and substantially built The ma formula employed are all of the very best, and the contractor, Mr R C Brown, is to be congratulated on the result Mr W Pritchard, architect, of Melbourne, has super intended the work in accordance with the late Mr Blacket s domestic, and Mr Shepherd has acted as clerk of the works the li

treasurer of the illino Sir George Verdon, bus, while the extense in has been in progress within the last 12 months evinced a special interest in the details of construction and to his artistic knowledge and cultivated

rate the council is indebted for many valuable

hints

When the new building is opened next month the work of the college staff, will, UH mut besmirched be greatly facilitated Several so and in the centre of Bishops Buildings will be Hit at liberty for lectures, c and in other directions apart from the increased residence accommodation, tim convenience of the college will be improved

Wtt time add that the formal opening of the new buildings will not nile (luce till Birnie time in August His Excellency the (lover it will be asked to take part in the cere

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