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International House, The University of Sydney

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Coordinates: 33°53′18″S 151°11′34″E / 33.8883°S 151.1928°E / -33.8883; 151.1928
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International House
University of Sydney
University of Sydney
Location96 City Road, Darlington NSW 2008
Established1967
ArchitectBunning and Madden
StatusSuspended all Operations
ColoursRed, Yellow & Blue
GenderMixed
Residents200
Websitewww.sydney.edu.au/international-house/

International House is a residential college owned and operated by the University of Sydney. Opened in 1967, the college comprised 200 undergraduate and postgraduate students from Australia and many other countries around the world.[1] The more numerous groups by nationality were Australia, India, China, New Zealand, Hong Kong, and South Korea, and the countries of south-east Asia.[2]

Due to poor commercial viability as a result of the residence being too small for what is required to keep residence fees at a competitive level and the rising costs of maintaining a building with serious issues,[3] the college suspended all operations in January 2021 until a building redevelopment can be completed[4] however this has since stalled due to the University having multiple competing requirements for major investment and hence the redevelopment project is pending decisions on financing.[2]

History

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In 1954 the Secretary of the Overseas Student Bureau, Margaret Briggs, prepared a report on the need for an International House. In 1955 the SRC (Students Representative Council) agreed to take on the responsibility for the fundraising campaign for an IH. It was hoped that an International House would assist both Australian and overseas students with quality accommodation and an academic environment for cultural exchange. In 1959 the university appointed Mr W Harold Maze MBE, then deputy principal of the university, to the planning committee and he worked tirelessly to establish the House. His contribution was recognised in the W. H. Maze Building in 1985.

It was the involvement of Rotary International that made International House a possibility. They were tasked with raising $100,000 for the Sydney IH. From as early as 1956 Rotary had expressed a commitment to assisting in the establishment of a residential hall for foreign students.

Picture of International House building taken from City Road, 1970
International House and the adjacent former Architectural Science buildings. c. 1970

Fundraising proved to be hard going but Ian Hudson, who was district governor at the time, urged the clubs in his district and the newly emerged District 268 to finish the task. Rotary's fundraising role was vital to the establishment of International House and individual rotaries and particular clubs have continued to assist in relation to matters of governance through their membership of the council as well as through fundraising and outreach programs.

The official opening of the House's main building was on 16 June 1967. Upon opening, the building had the capacity to house 125 residents. Other buildings followed with the East Wing in 1972, Elkin Wing in 1979 and the Maze Units in 1985. The architect for the building was Walter Bunning from the firm, Bunning and Madden, who also designed the National Library of Australia.[5]

The first director, Graeme de Graaff, retired in 1987 and was succeeded by Geoffrey Andrews, who held the position until his retirement in May 1999. The third director was Dr Ruth Shatford, who retired in June 2002. The current director is Jessica Carroll.[1][6]

Building Residence

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International House, view from City Road
The Wool Room, International House

Since 1967 over 6,000 residents have lived in the House, representing over 100 nationalities. Approximately 40% of residents have come from Australia, 45% have been undergraduates, 40%+ have been women and the average age of residents has been in the mid-twenties.

The House offers both catered and self-catered accommodation to current University of Sydney students. The catered accommodation includes 16 twin share rooms, 145 single rooms and 10 ensuite rooms. The self-catered accommodation includes six studio units, seven one-bedroom units and three two-bedroom units. [7]

One of the central aims of International House is to encourage mutual respect and understanding among residents and wider communities, and to develop authentic international perspectives, far-reaching global networks, and lifelong friendships.[8]

Governance

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The council is the governing body of International House. It consists of 4 ex-officio members, 1 Fellow of Senate, 3 members of Rotary International, 1 person from Sydney University International House Alumni Association, 3 members from the International House Members Association and up to 9 appointed members. The ex-officio members are: the chancellor, the deputy chancellor, the vice-chancellor & principal of the university and the director of International House. The council has four committees: Finance, Nominations, Development and Fellows Committee.

Current Council composition

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  • Steve Mark AM, Council Chairman – SAB QLD, Hon Doctor of Laws Macq; Creative Consequences P/L; former Legal Services Commissioner of NSW
  • Belinda Hutchinson AM – Chancellor[9]
  • Dr Michael Spence – Vice Chancellor and Principal
  • Alec Brennan AM – Deputy Chancellor
  • Jessica Carroll – Director[10]

Members' association

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International House Members' Association (IHMA) is a volunteer committee of current residents who manage social events and activities including I-Night and Food Fair. The Chair, Treasurer and Secretary of IHMA sit on International House Council meetings and are elected each year by current residents.[11] Additional volunteer positions on IHMA include photographer, shop coordinator, food coordinator, social coordinator, environment officer and sports coordinator.

Alumni association

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Sydney University Alumni Association (SUIHAA) is the representative body for 6000+ International House alumni around the world. SUIHAA manage local and international reunions, events, and programs which contribute to the wider mission of International House. The current president of the alumni association is Rosamond Madden AM.[12]

Notable alumni and College Fellows

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References

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  1. ^ a b "A brief history of International House". The University of Sydney. Retrieved 23 March 2019.
  2. ^ a b Houseman, Gregory (19 October 2023). A history of International House – Prof Gregory A. Houseman. International students and the University of Sydney Symposium. Sydney University Postgraduate Representative Association.
  3. ^ "'A world view that sees people rather than nations': the legacy of Sydney Uni's International House". The Conversation. 30 December 2020.
  4. ^ "Update on the future of International House". The University of Sydney. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
  5. ^ Spearritt, Peter (1993). "Bunning, Walter Ralston (1912 - 1977)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. ISBN 978-0-522-84459-7. ISSN 1833-7538. OCLC 70677943. Retrieved 19 May 2008.
  6. ^ Gascoigne, J. (2007). "Passing the Light: A history of the University of Sydney’s International House", University Publishing Service. ISBN 9781921364006.
  7. ^ "Accommodation". The University of Sydney. Retrieved 23 March 2019.
  8. ^ "About". The University of Sydney. Retrieved 18 June 2019.
  9. ^ "Chancellor Belinda Hutchinson". The University of Sydney. Retrieved 23 March 2019.
  10. ^ "Home". The University of Sydney. Retrieved 23 March 2019.
  11. ^ "Our people". The University of Sydney. Retrieved 18 June 2019.
  12. ^ "Alumni Association". The University of Sydney. Retrieved 18 June 2019.
  13. ^ "Institute for Sustainable Leadership – Who we are". Archived from the original on 17 June 2015. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
  14. ^ Greenberg, Joel. Australian Dictionary of Biography. National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. Retrieved 23 March 2019 – via Australian Dictionary of Biography.
  15. ^ "Subscribe to The Australian - Newspaper home delivery, website, iPad, iPhone & Android apps". Myaccount.news.com.au. Retrieved 23 March 2019.
  16. ^ "News - The University of Sydney". Sydney.edu.au. Retrieved 23 March 2019.
  17. ^ "The University of Sydney United Kingdom Alumni Association (UKAA) Alumni : Spring 2010 Alumni Newsletter" (PDF). Alumni.sydney.edu.au. March 2010. Retrieved 23 March 2019.
  18. ^ "Pioneer with a passion for Thailand". The Sydney Morning Herald. 16 June 2013. Retrieved 23 March 2019.
  19. ^ Services, Archives and Records Management. "Honorary awards - ARMS - The University of Sydney". Sydney.edu.au. Retrieved 23 March 2019.
  20. ^ "On the record". The Sydney Morning Herald. 16 October 2010. Retrieved 23 March 2019.
  21. ^ Services, Archives and Records Management. "Honorary awards - ARMS - The University of Sydney". Sydney.edu.au. Retrieved 23 March 2019.
  22. ^ "Doctor's mission to end child death". Dailytelegraph.com.au. 10 March 2014. Retrieved 23 March 2019.
  23. ^ "Donate to the Bo Children's Hospital Sierra Leone - Children's Charity". Bochildrenshospital.org.au. Retrieved 23 March 2019.
  24. ^ "Age Discrimination Commissioner, The Hon Dr Kay Patterson AO". Humanrights.gov.au. 1 August 2016. Retrieved 8 November 2016.
  25. ^ "Joan Rowlands's Worldwide Profile". Worldwidebranding.com. Retrieved 23 March 2019.
  26. ^ Heads of New South Wales Independent Girls' Schools. About AHIGS. Association of Heads of Independent Girls Schools.
  27. ^ "Association of Heads of Independent Girls Schools (AHIGS)". Ahigs.nsw.edu.au. Retrieved 23 March 2019.
  28. ^ "Guide and mentor to filmmakers". The Sydney Morning Herald. 30 March 2012. Retrieved 23 March 2019.
  29. ^ "Fragments of a modern Iran". Inside Story. 7 March 2012. Retrieved 23 March 2019.
  30. ^ Boris Schedvin. "EMISSARIES OF TRADE : a history of the Australian trade commissioner service" (PDF). Dfat.gov.au. Retrieved 23 March 2019.

33°53′18″S 151°11′34″E / 33.8883°S 151.1928°E / -33.8883; 151.1928

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