NEWCASTLE SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE REUNION 2000

There is evidence of professional architectural education in Newcastle dating back to the latter part of the nineteenth century. Formal education programmes in Newcastle even predate the original New South Wales Architects Act of 1921 by some years when architectural courses offered by the Department of Technical Education were presented in the city. More recently, diploma and degree courses in Architecture have existed in Newcastle under the control of the University of New South Wales and since 1965, the University of Newcastle. Most of the region’s architects have received their professional education from one of these institutions, especially at the University of Newcastle, since 1965.

There is therefore clear evidence of a rich and continuing history of association of the architectural profession with the University of Newcastle and its antecedents.

Investigation of those more than one hundred years of history showed there had been no formal major gathering of architecture students or staff at any time in the past. This may have resulted from the wide-spread locations of many previous students where regular and close contact was not easy. It may also have resulted from the fact that local practitioners, as previous students, were generally well known to each other. This fact also reflects the strong bond that remains a core part of the character of the Newcastle School of Architecture.
Despite these characteristics, many members of the disparate group were not well known to each other nor to members of the local professional body. In addition, differing generations of architecture graduates have tended to become isolated as the age-profile of the profession changes.

In 1997, a number of architecture graduates of the University, including practising and retired architects, gathered to investigate the potential for holding a major gathering of previous students and staff, both from the early days at Tighes Hill and more recently, from the Callaghan campus. Their intention was to arrange more than a gathering of a few “old boys” attending a dinner and a tour of the “old school”. With more than 600 Bachelor of Architecture graduates from the University of Newcastle itself, the potential for attendance was seen as significant to the School, the University and the City of Newcastle.

The original organising committee included:

Ron Armstrong 1974 Architect, Bob Donaldson 1967 Retired Architect, Previously Senior Lecturer and Head of the Department of Architecture, John Hoffmann 1961 Retired Architect, NSW Government Architect’s Office, John Carroll 1966 Retired Architect, NSW Government Architect’s office, Charles Martin 1972 Architect, Douglas Watts 1967 Architect, John Sara 1966 Architect, Les Reedman 1958 Retired Architect, Previously Assist. NSW Government Architect, Bob Armstrong 1957 Retired and again practising architect

The committee formulated a wide-ranging policy and programme and consequently developed extensive and accurate databases of graduates. These databases have grown significantly as more information has come to hand. Details of the attendance database can be found on this website.

Personal information to add to the database is always welcome.
Reunion 2000 attendees

The occasion united architects from across the globe with those from national and regional centres. It helped promote the architectural profession in particular. It was a unique forum in which the School of Architecture and the University of Newcastle received wide ranging global and local exposure.

There is no doubt that the event was a major occasion in the calenders of the architectural profession internationally and within Australia, in fact, anywhere Newcastle graduates practise architecture. It was also a major event for the School of Architecture and the University of Newcastle.

Professor Barry Maitland, Dean of the Faculty of Architecture, Building and Design was the guest speaker at the Reunion 2000 dinner and the evening was chaired by Lindsay Johnston, Head of the Department of Architecture. Reunion 2000 dinner speech by Barry Maitland

Some 200 people attended the weekend programme and the Newcastle Town Hall was packed for the Saturday evening dinner. Old friendships were rekindled across the weekend and new ones were established.

An outcome of Reunion 2000 was the establishment of the Eric Parker Travelling Scholarship. Details of this unique annual award for a Newcastle architecture student can be found on this website.

Eric Parker Travelling Scholarship details

The Newcastle School of Architecture Reunion 2000 had no precedent in the region. It was unique and carried with it the synergy associated with any such ‘first occasion’. That energy remains today and will continue do so as it remains very well supported by graduates, the school and the architectural profession. The annual Eric Parker Scholarship Dinner is one means of keeping this connection alive. The Eric Parker Travelling Scholarship is another.

Please feel free to make contact, either electronically or personally at any time with any member of the Eric Parker Travelling Scholarship committee.

Eric Parker Travelling Scholarship Committee Membership

NEWCASTLE SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE
REUNION 2000

THE WEEKEND PROGRAMME AS IT HAPPENED