Lumen Winter 2014 - Flipbook - Page 6
1870s
-1890s
Fledgling university
aims high
The ambitions of the University of Adelaide’s founders were
nothing if not grand. With a population scarcely a quarter of
New South Wales or Victoria, the University’s first Commencement
Ceremony in 1876 had a distinctly international flavour. It
included the admission of more than 70 graduates of overseas
universities who were awarded courtesy degrees ad eundem
gradum. This distinguished company formed the first Senate
of the University, and served as an inspiration to the best and
brightest of the developing colony to seek a higher education.
These were the years of firsts: the first graduates in all the
disciplines, the first endowed scholarships, the first Australian
university to admit women to degrees, and the appointment of
internationally recognised academics, among them a future Nobel
prize winner, to a staff of international distinction. In spite of the
small numbers, with fewer than a dozen graduates in the early
years, the University enjoyed the unstinting support of the local
community. The future was assured thanks to some extraordinary
gifts from people such as Sir Walter Watson Hughes, Sir Thomas
Elder, John Howard Angas, Robert Barr Smith, and many others.
The University’s first graduate, Thomas Ainslie Caterer, 1879
Building a sporting heritage
Generosity and vision
of our early benefactors
The founding of the University of Adelaide in 1874—just the third
university in Australia—was made possible by a gift of £20,000 by
Sir Walter Watson Hughes. It was an enormous amount at the time
and is equivalent to more than $21 million today.
In 1896 the Sports Association was established by the University’s
first sporting clubs—boating, tennis and lacrosse. Nobel Prize winner
Sir William Henry Bragg was instrumental in setting up the Lacrosse
club in 1889 and was the association’s third Life Member in 1909.
Today, Adelaide University Sport has 36 affiliated sporting clubs with
a further three awaiting formal affiliation. This will make it the largest
university sports association in Australia.
Sir Walter’s contribution is today marked by the Hughes Building and
two sculptures of Hughes—a marble bust in the Bonython Hall foyer
and, most notably, a classical bronze sculpture in front of the Mitchell
Building by Francis John Williamson (1833–1920).
Also renowned for his philanthropy was Sir Thomas Elder, a wealthy
businessman and pastoralist who left £65,000 to the University upon
his death in 1897, including £20,000 which was devoted to music.
The University of Adelaide was the largest beneficiary of Elder’s estate,
enabling the building of Elder Hall opened in 1900, the establishment
of the Elder Conservatorium of Music and Elder Professorship of
Music. An initial gift of £20,000 in 1874 was used to endow Chairs
of Mathematics and Natural Science. Other generous gifts included
£9,000 from Sir Thomas and Robert Barr Smith towards the
establishment of the University’s library.
Lacrosse team, 1896
To this gentleman we
owe the existence of the
University. If it had not
been for his munificence we
should have no Chancellor
and no pageant and no
degrees. His generosity has
wonderfully stimulated the
progress of higher education
in the colony…
Laying the foundation stone of Elder Hall, 1898
Sir Walter Watson Hughes
4 Lumen | Winter 2014
South Australian Register, 1885,
speaking about Sir Walter Watson Hughes
