Buildings and Grounds Division

University history

Melbourne (Bundoora) Campus

The Melbourne (Bundoora) Campus was the foundation and is the main metropolitan campus of the University. It was formerly the farm supporting the Mont Park and Larundel mental hospitals. A master plan was prepared for the development of the site by Yunken Freeman Architects and accepted by the University in April, 1965 prior to construction commencing. The first buildings to be established were Glenn College and the first stage of the Library. The master planner, Roy Simpson, also had operational responsibilty over the physical development of the campus until a Buildings Officer, Stuart Morton, and a Buildings Branch was appointed. This provided on-site project management of the significant capital program and site works development and subsequently encompassed the operational care of the assets in the maintenance, landscaping and servicing of the "buildings and grounds" as the Branch became under the control of Trevor Russell (1970 - 1983), who was succeeded by Denis Stephenson (1983 - 2003). The "Buildings and Grounds" Division in the Office of the Vice-Principal (Resources and Administration) is currently headed up by Barry Inglis (2003 -).

Whilst the land for the campus was a Crown Grant (title was achieved in 1987) the funding for all buildings until 1992 was from Federal funds granted for specific projects. There were exceptions to this in the innovation financial establishment of the Housing Project on the Waterdale Raod side by the then Business Manager, Frank Barnes, and the establishment of the Research and Development Park by Ross Christie. Projects by the Union, SARA, and others are funded thorugh loan funds with the University acting as guarantor.

Since 1992 the Commonwealth Capital grant has been "rolled in" to the annual operating grant and the choice of projects is at the University's discretion., and innovative funding schemes are now an essential ingredient to capital programs as can be seen in the LTU Medical Centre (completion 1999), and the continuing development of the Research and Development Park by CRI.

The landscape of the campus had high priority in the development with the appointment of a Curator (Franz Saul, 1965 - 1977) who commenced broad brush plantings before the building program got underway. Professor Lindsay Pryor, Department of Forestry, ANU, was appointed as consultant, preparing a master plan which has transformed the former farmlands to a magnificent and appropriate landscape. Franz Saul was succeeded by Clive Popham (1977 - 19994) and Lorraine Irving (1999 -). The indigenous gum trees (Eucalyptus camaldulensis and E. meloidora) were carefully retained, and a scheme which incorporated both native and exotic plants was devised for the inner courtyards between the buildings, becoming less formal towards the outer reaches of the campus where the recreation of the indigenous bush was established. This is best seen in the Melbourne Wildlife Sanctuary. The development of the Sports Grounds south of Kingsbury Drive was managed by the Branch and are cared for by staff of SARA.

The maintenance of the buildings and infrastructure is a major on-going program, which emcompasses preventative, programmed and break-down services. The first Maintenance Superintendant, Edmund Finegan established the Maintenance Depot. His Deputy, Bill Fidler followed him and then his Deputy, Bruce Watts, followed by Martin Laverie.

The current Maintenance Manager, Peter Foulds, continues to provide a continuum of in-house resource knowledge, essential to the service the teaching and research activities of the University. The site is serviced by a gas turbine co-generation plant, established by the former Energy Manager, Ivan Hipworth in 1993.

This highly efficient plant provides all campus power supplies, with the waste heat providing high temperature hot water via a tunnel and culvert system throughout the site for heating and cooling to most buildings.

The regular and experience maintenance of this system is critical to the operation of the University. The tunnel system which connects all buildings on the inner campus and the Colleges facilitates the introduction of new technology and carries most services in a cost effective and accessible way.

In its thirty-five year history, the University has been fortunate to retain a very stable management in all of the sections of the Buildings and Grounds Division, providing a strong in-hous service to the staff and students of the campus.