Great Hall celebrates 50 years of cheering graduates across the stage
Today marks the 50th anniversary of the University of Newcastle’s Great Hall, which was officially opened by the Governor of New South Wales, Sir Roden Cutler on 28 November 1973.
Sir Roden Cutler opening the Great Hall 1973
Construction of the Great Hall was made possible through a huge fundraising effort led by former Newcastle Lord Mayor Frank Purdue and the Newcastle and Hunter region community, generous local industry, and business.
In the late 60s and early 70s, the ‘buy a brick’ campaign was launched with great success, seeing a grand total of $600,000 raised for the construction of the Great Hall – which today would equal almost $8.2 million.
Amongst one of the first student cohorts to graduate in the Great Hall was Mrs Gaynor Reeves OAM who walked across the stage to receive her Master of Arts in 1976.
Mrs Reeves has been a long running advocate for women, the growth of the University, and our region, contributing to fundraising for the Great Hall in the 70s.
After graduating, Mrs Reeves became director of the University of Newcastle Language Centre and was a key figure in establishing the English language program.
Throughout her 25 years working at the University of Newcastle, Mrs Reeves attended countless graduation ceremonies in the Great Hall and said that it was wonderful to see her students celebrate with their families.
“I loved being a part of graduations because you really got to know the students, and it was always such a happy day to see them celebrate with their families,” said Mrs Reeves.
“It’s been wonderful to see the expansion of the University since its inception. I’ve been thrilled to see what a difference it has made in the local community.”
“So many people from Newcastle would not have been able to afford to go to Sydney to study. The University gave people the opportunity to still live at home and study, and that’s been so wonderful for Newcastle.”
Undergraduates in front of Great Hall c. 1986
In 2023, more than 4,500 University of Newcastle graduates walk proudly across the stage of the Great Hall to receive their degrees.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Alex Zelinsky said that the Great Hall is a testament to our local region, and the continued support for the University over the years.
“The Great Hall was built by our community, for our community. It demonstrates the value that our community contributes to our University and the enduring support from the public, our industry partners, and local businesses,” said Professor Zelinsky.
“I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to all those who generously supported the Great Hall campaign in the 60s and 70s, and those who continue to donate to important initiatives through the University like our Scholarships, Alumni House, and many important research programs. This kind of support is vital and has made a real difference for our students and our community.”
“We are proud of our more than 171,000 alumni who are making an impact right across the globe. A large majority of our alumni receive their degree in the Great Hall. We know it means a lot to each and every graduate. I am pleased to be a part of that ongoing commitment to our region, and I look forward to seeing many more graduates cross that stage in the years to come,” said Professor Zelinsky.
In December, more than 3,500 students will be the latest to cross the Great Hall stage, in what will be our largest cohort of graduates ever. They will join not only our world-wide alumni community, but also the countless number of students from around the region and across the globe who have celebrated their achievements in the iconic Great Hall, which wouldn't have been possible without the generosity of our community.
If you have a memory of the Great Hall that you would like to share, send it through to our dedicated Alumni team at alumni@newcastle.edu.au.
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The University of Newcastle acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands within our footprint areas: Awabakal, Darkinjung, Biripai, Worimi, Wonnarua, and Eora Nations. We also pay respect to the wisdom of our Elders past and present.