The University of Queensland (UQ) Gatton will celebrate its status as the state’s first tertiary education institution with the launch of a “heritage tour with a difference” at this Sunday’s Open Day.
The interpretive tour draws on a rich tapestry of stories to guide staff, students and visitors through the Gatton campus’ 107-year history and will be officially launched by UQ Vice-Chancellor Professor John Hay.
Visitors will be able to take the tour at their own pace through what is also one of the most attractive campuses in Queensland, gaining a fascinating insight into the history of some of its earliest buildings.
“The Gatton campus has been around, under one name or another and now as part of the University of Queensland, since 1897,” Campus Manager Janelle Zahmel said.
“There is a lot of history crammed into those 107 years and a lot of very memorable stories, some from the official record books and many from the memories of the people who have worked and studied here.
“This tour captures some of those stories and uses them to tell the UQ Gatton story.”
The heritage tour will be launched at the Foundation Building, which originally opened in 1897 as the Administration Building and served in various academic capacities until March 1942 when the US Army requisitioned the Campus as an Army Field Hospital. The building reverted to its original role when the American troops departed in 1944, 60 years ago this year.
“The Foundation Building and the wartime role it played is just one of many chapters in this historic campus’ history,” Ms Zahmel said.
“The heritage tour that will be launched on Sunday by Vice-Chancellor Hay engages staff, students and visitors alike in a celebration of that history.”
Members of the public are welcome to attend the UQ Gatton Campus Open Day, which runs from 9.30am to 3pm this Sunday, August 22. The launch of the heritage tour will take place at 2pm outside the Foundation Building, located at the southern end of the Central Walkway.
For more information, contact Brad Henderson on (07) 5460 1229 or 0409.265.587
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