Media Release
March 19 2007
Iconic building named to celebrate SA’s only Prime Minister
The University of South Australia’s iconic North Terrace building
will be named in honour of former Prime Minister Bob Hawke, when it is
opened in October this year.
The only Australian Prime Minister to be born in SA and the longest serving Labor Prime Minister (1983 to 1991), Robert James Lee Hawke, is widely recognised for his consensus style, a far-reaching economic and social reform agenda and opening the Australian economy to the world.
In 1997 UniSA established the Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Centre and Library as only the second Prime Ministerial Centre of its kind in Australia. Modelled on the Presidential Centres of the United States, the Centre incorporates the Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Library and has aided the parallel development of the Hawke Research Institute for Sustainable Societies.
The Hawke Centre has played an increasingly significant role in the intellectual life of the State, attracting leading thinkers to South Australia from around the world to deliver free public lectures and engage with the state’s policy makers, interest groups and professionals.
The Centre has won an SA Great Award for Education for its contribution to the educational reputation and international standing of the State.
In 2001 UniSA announced a capital development plan which included the construction of a public home for the Hawke Centre and a place where the wider community could engage in activities run by the Centre.
UniSA Vice Chancellor Professor Denise Bradley says Mr Hawke has been a great advocate for the Centre and its work in engaging young people and the wider community in discussion and thought about sustainability, responsible policy and citizenship.
He had also aided the wider economic agenda of the State through service on the Economic Development Board and promotion of the State in the wider international sphere.
“It is more than appropriate that this new and dynamic building will carry his name,” Professor Bradley said.
“His contribution to Australian society as Prime Minister, his international standing, and his commitment to education, public debate and the development of a civil society through the work of the Hawke Centre, are enduring.”
Designed by national award winning architect John Wardle, the $35 million Hawke building will be a new cultural venue for the State and a landmark feature of the City West precinct.
It will house a 400 seat auditorium, a Civic Gallery, a forum space, a high-tech theatrette with international communications capacity.
The Hawke building will also include the second largest public art gallery in the State, the Anne and Gordon Samstag Museum of Art, the Hawke Library and the University’s Chancellery.
It will become one of the most highly visited UniSA buildings, with
free public exhibitions, expert conferences and Hawke Centre events.
Media contact
- Michèle Nardelli office (08) 8302 0966 mobile 041 8823673 email michele.nardelli@unisa.edu.au