Plenty to celebrate as St Paul’s College embarks on new beginning

Two multimillion-dollar buildings at St Paul’s College, on the grounds of Sydney University, are complete — with those that call it home working to break down boundaries of the once controversial all-male educational community.

Tiffany Wong, Tim Berney-Gibson and Christina Pennell, resident students at Graduate House at St Paul's College. Picture: Dan Himbrechts

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Two multimillion-dollar buildings at St Paul’s College, on the grounds of Sydney University, are complete — with those calling it home working to break down boundaries of the once controversial all-male educational community.

The undergraduate building, for men only and Graduate House, for both men and women, will be officially opened this weekend.

The Graduate House, which is open to anyone who has completed a university degree and is studying at the University of Sydney, will house up to 140 graduate students and resident academics.

Tiffany Wong, Christina Pennell and Tim Berney-Gibson, resident students at Graduate House at St Paul's College. Picture: Dan Himbrechts

The completion of the two buildings is a reflection of just how far the college has come after a series of scandals exposed a sexist culture within the college in recent years.

The changes are expected to pave the way for a stronger coeducational community at the prestigious college, which welcomed its first female students late last year.

The buildings were officially opened by the chancellor of the university, Belinda Hutchinson AM, the vice-chancellor, Dr Michael Spence AC, and the Anglican Archbishop of Sydney.

St Paul’s College inside Sydney University is celebrating the grand opening and completion of the two buildings. Picture: Matthew Vasilescu

“The college is utterly determined to be a leader in preventing and responding strongly to sexism, sexual harassment and sexual assault,” a spokesman for the college said.

“We are equally determined to uphold the values of respect and dignity for all, regardless of gender.”

Several years ago the college embarked on a two-to-three stage expansion, that involved three new buildings. The third building has not yet been built.

Tim Berney-Gibson, Tiffany Wong and Christina Pennell, resident students at Graduate House at St Paul's College. Picture: Dan Himbrechts.

Warden of the college Dr Don Markwell said St Paul’s College was proud to announce the newly finished Graduate House, for men and women, which would be named after Stephen McMillan, a student of the college from 1974 to 1979.

He said Mr McMillan was instrumental in enabling the construction of the project.

Around 80 students now live at the McMillan House, with half of them being women.

“Without Steve’s drive, vision and commitment to collegiate education, Graduate House and the college’s expanded undergraduate community simply would not have happened,” Dr Markwell said.

St Paul’s College business manager Louise Hambridge and head of St Paul’s College Dr Don Markwell in the Colonnade room. Picture: Matthew Vasilescu

Underneath the two buildings is the St Paul’s Colonnade, a brand-new teaching space, leased to the University of Sydney, for the 2019 academic year.
It will be used for lectures, seminars and tutorials but will mostly for physics and health sciences. Classes in the colonnade began this week.

The two buildings were officially opened on Sunday March 3.

A spokesman for the college said the opening is also “an opportunity to recognise the contribution of the many others who enabled the college to embark on this ambitious project.”

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