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Media Release

December 9, 2003

Celebrating 100 years of education at UniSA’s ‘secular cathedral’

More than 500 old scholars will come together this Friday to celebrate the 100th anniversary of one of South Australia’s most significant buildings.

Officially opened in 1903, the Brookman Building (situated on the University of South Australia’s City East campus on the corner of North Terrace and Frome Road) has provided a venue for equitable and applied education throughout its life.

It came into being at the dawning of the 20th century and has stood the test of time through war, depression, restructure and redevelopment, initially as part of the South Australian School of Mines and Industries (from 1903-1918), and later as the Adelaide Technical High School (1918-1963), South Australian Institute of Technology (1963-1990) and University of South Australia (1991-the present).   

Tens of thousands of South Australians have been educated in the building – including some of our highest achievers, from Olympic athletes to a winner of the Victoria Cross – and many of the old scholars will attend the 100 year celebrations, in what will be one of the largest alumni events ever hosted by UniSA.

“We see this structure as much more than bricks and mortar – it is a stunning physical reminder of the historical and moral foundations on which the University of South Australia was built,” says UniSA’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Denise Bradley.

“I see it as a secular cathedral, celebrating the faith the nineteenth century had in the power of science and technology to change our world.

“It’s a magnificent symbol of pride and hope in the transforming power of science and education.”

Costing exactly £37,114.14, the Brookman Building was built by one of UniSA’s predecessor institutions, The South Australian School of Mines and Industries, largely thanks to a donation of £15,000 by wealthy industrialist Sir George Brookman.* (Brookman’s generosity helped convince the state government to contribute the remainder.)

“The School of Mines and Industries was formed in the 19th century on two founding ideas – a desire to strengthen the State’s economic base by providing more educated professionals and, underpinning that, the notion of more equitable access to education for greater numbers of people. These two ideals remain central to the mission of UniSA in the 21st century,” Professor Bradley says.

What: Centenary of Brookman Building Morning Tea Celebration
When: Friday December 12, 2003, 10.30am
Where: Brookman Hall – corner of North Terrace and Frome Road

Media please note that the celebration will also include the unveiling of a plaque commemorating the Adelaide Technical High School’s history with the Brookman Building. Alumni from the different eras are available for interviews, and historic photos from the archives are also available upon request.

* George Brookman was born in Scotland and emigrated to South Australia with his family when he was two. He made his fortune as a sharebroker, financier and investor in mining and was a man of considerable wealth and standing in the Adelaide community, chairing the Adelaide Electric Supply Company. 

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