Robert Blackwood Hall celebrates 40 years
Robert Blackwood Hall 1971. Courtesy: Monash University Archives and Wolfgang Sievers
This week marks the 40th anniversary of the iconic Robert Blackwood Hall at Monash University’s Clayton campus.
The concert hall, which was established in June 1971, has been the heart of cultural activity for the surrounding community for the past forty years.
Peter Tregear, Executive Director, Monash Academy of Performing Arts said when the Hall originally opened, its modernist design embodied the hopes and ideals for the University’s future.
In the mid-sixties, members of the local community formed a group – The Great Hall Committee – seeking to raise funds to build the Hall. The response from the public was outstanding with just over half of the $1.2million required to complete the building raised by the community.
“The foundations of the Robert Blackwood Hall were built on community. Every aspect of the Hall – from its stage to its acoustic design – was intended not only to support the Hall’s ceremonial functions, but also to attract both local and world-class musical performers to Melbourne,” said Dr Tregear.
Designed by eminent architect Sir Roy Grounds, renowned for designing the National Gallery of Victoria, the Hall features an extraordinary stained glass window by artist Leonard French, a contemporary reworking of the rose window common to medieval cathedrals.
Over its forty-year history the Hall has attracted a host of national and international musicians and performers including choirs, soloists, opera singers, popular bands and orchestras. The Hall has also provided an ideal recording environment that has been used by the ABC and Melba Recordings, among others, to record CDs and film scores.
Today, together with the Performing Arts Centre and the Alexander Theatre, the Robert Blackwood Hall forms part of the University’s arts precinct. The Hall is now managed by the Academy of Performing Arts, which was established in 2006.
“The Hall continues to hold fast to its founding aims and visions to be a place for community, for music, for education, for enlightenment, for interest and for sheer entertainment, both within Monash and in the wider community,” said Dr Tregear.
To celebrate the 40th anniversary of Robert Blackwood Hall, Monash Academy of Performing Arts will showcase a range of events and performances over the coming 12 months.
For further information visit www.monash.edu/mapa