Residential Colleges of the University

The establishment of residential colleges was envisaged from the foundation of the University and their affiliation was expressly provided for in the original Act of Incorporation. The Government set aside sites for the purpose within the area generally reserved for the University. The first of the colleges, Trinity (an Anglican foundation of 1870), was opened in 1872.

The first Warden of Trinity, Alexander Leeper, quickly built up a comprehensive system of college teaching. This was adopted by other colleges on their foundation, and remains a distinguishing feature of the Melbourne collegiate system. So too, do the enrolment of non-resident students and the provision of significant college libraries, now supplemented by computer installations.

The college tutorial system (in which International House and Medley Hall also participate) is in general supplementary to teaching offered by the University's faculties, and is organized in part on an intercollegiate basis. Formal links with the University on academic matters are maintained through a Joint Committee of the Academic Board and the Heads of Colleges, and under a Statute of the University (S5.1.2), "any teacher in an affiliated institution" may be appointed to membership of a faculty. Heads of Colleges play a part in the committee work of the University.

The other three colleges for which sites had been originally reserved were established as follows: Ormond (Presbyterian foundation, 1870, later Uniting Church), opened 1881; Queen's (Methodist foundation, 1887, later Uniting Church), opened 1888; Newman (Roman Catholic foundation, 1916), opened 1918.

A residential hostel for women students was opened by Trinity College in 1886, the first institution of its kind within Australia. Janet Clarke Hall, as it was in due course named, became an independent college in 1961 and co-educational in 1973.

University College (private non-denominational foundation, 1936) was opened in 1937 on a site made available by the State Government. From 1937 to 1975 it was known as University Women's College.

St. Mary's College, originally a Hall of Residence in Parkville founded in 1918 for Catholic women students, obtained full college status in 1965 and moved to a new site adjacent to Newman College.

St. Hilda's College (Methodist-Presbyterian foundation, 1963, later Uniting Church) opened in 1964 on a site made available by Queen's College.

Whitley College (Baptist foundation) was opened in 1965.

The Graduate Union of the University in 1962 established Graduate House as a postgraduate hall of residence. In 1972 the whole Graduate Union became an affiliated college of the University.

All Colleges of the University are open to both men and women students.

General enquiries about the Colleges may be directed to the Intercollegiate Office, c/o St Mary’s College, Swanston Street. Telephone : (03) 9347 9320; Email: enquiries@colleges.unimelb.edu.au. See also the Colleges' website, for more information about the residential Colleges, including how to apply for a College place