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The University of Western Australia's residential college Currie Hall has celebrated 50 years since it was named after the University's second Vice-Chancellor, Sir George Currie.

UWA Vice-Chancellor Professor Alan Robson said Sir George began work at the University as a Professor of Agriculture in 1939 and served as Vice-Chancellor from 1940 to 1952.

"He was known as ‘the jolly doctor' and many of the 10,000 students who have lived at Currie Hall since 1960 would probably agree that his happy nature has permeated the college that bears his name," Professor Robson said.

Owned and operated by UWA and housing 250 students, Currie Hall was founded in 1946 as the University Hostel.  It was established in buildings that had been used as the bachelor officers' quarters by the United States Navy during World War II.  The servicemen who lived there operated Catalina flying boats from the Swan River.

Currie Hall has also marked the completion of Stage One of its new 24-room building development as well as a new 500-room project, as part of the National Rental Affordability Scheme.

Professor Robson said the current development was part of an overall expansion of student accommodation on and around UWA's Crawley campus, which included 230 new rooms at St Catherine's College.

"A sense of community is an essential element in providing students with a meaningful and enriching education.  Currie Hall and our other colleges play a vital role in this," he said.

"They offer far more than simply student accommodation - they nurture ‘community spirit', provide essential academic support, and offer pastoral and social support."

Currie Hall marked the 50th anniversary of its naming with a dinner.  Guest speaker, Emeritus Professor Don Watts, is a UWA graduate, Fellow of Currie Hall and inaugural Vice-Chancellor of Curtin University.  He is also a former President and Vice-Chancellor of Bond University.

Media references

Chris Massey (Principal, Currie Hall)  (+61 8)  9273 3335
Michael Sinclair-Jones (UWA Public Affairs)  (+61 8)  6488 3229  /  (+61 4) 00 700 783