Rare Colour Photograph of Newcastle University College Graduation Emerges
Geoff Barcan, son of the late Dr Alan Barcan, recently sent us this rare colour image of a graduation ceremony at the Newcastle University College. The Graduation ceremony was held on the 22 March 1957. The photograph taken by his mother, Beryl Barcan, nee Buckler, who also graduated on that day under her maiden name. At the microphone is the Chancellor of the University of New England, Sir Earle Page, KCMG, QC.
The Conferring of Degrees Booklet for the 22 March 1957
View the full booklet here:
https://livinghistories.newcastle.edu.au/nodes/view/77700
What Was The Newcastle University College?
The Newcastle University College was the predecessor of the current day University of Newcastle (Australia).
It was officially opened on the 3rd December 1951 as the Newcastle University College of Technology of the New South Wales University of Technology. The Arts & Humanities later came in under the auspices of The University of New England.
So we can see these two established Universities as the parents of the fledgling Newcastle University College (NUC).
The Newcastle University College continued up until autonomy was granted and the University of Newcastle (Australia) was established as a fully fledged University in its own right on January 1, 1965.
The Opening of Newcastle University College 3rd December 1951
Descriptions are from the Newcastle Morning Herald article above, that helped with the sequencing of the photographs.
Ref: http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article140338985 and http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article140338958
The ceremonies began with a colourful procession from the Engineering Building to a dais in front of the Science Building. Most of the dignitaries were in academic and ecclesiastical robes of green, scarlet, gold, purple and black trimmed with ermine. Service officers in khaki and white provided a foil for the brighter colours.
In the procession were the Premier (Mr. McGirr), Minister for Education (Mr.Heffron). President of the Council of the New South Wales University of Technology (Mr. C. Wurth), and the Lord Mayor (Ald. Purdue). In the audience were district Parliamentarians, commercial and industrial leaders. In the procession also were representatives of Sydney University, the National University of Canberra, and New England University at Armidale.
Speeches by
Mr Wallace Wurth President N.S.W. University of Technology &
The Hon. J.G. McGirr The Premier of New South Wales
at the Opening of Newcastle University College at Tighes Hill Technical College, 3rd December 1951
Opening the ceremonies, Mr. Wurth praised the three universities represented for their cooperation in aiding the admission of the N.S.W. University of Technology to the Fraternity of Australian Universities. They had smoothed a patch which could have been very rough, he said. He praised the work of Newcastle Technical Education District Council. The University Council was grateful for its work in advancing technical education in Newcastle.
Mr. Wurth said that two years ago, when the foundation stone of the N.S.W. University was laid at Kensington, he had made a pledge to the public and industries to demand the highest standards in technical education. He extended that pledge to Newcastle. The council would discharge its obligations to the citizens of the area.
Mr. McGirr said the people of Newcastle had breathed into the city the life which made it the industrial heart of Australia. Some years ago. when Mr. Heffron was appointed Minister for Education, he set – out to develop something of which Australia could be proud, – and which would be of great practical assistance to the nation. Mr. Heffron had sought out the Chairman of the Public Service Board (Mr. Wurth). He had looked for someone to join him in bringing his idea of higher technical education to fruition. Together, they had studied oversea trends and finally prepared the basis of the draft legislation passed by the Government. Mr. McGirr said men from the workshops and factories of Newcastle would pass through the portals eventually to aid industry and Australia. It was fitting that Newcastle was the first city after Sydney to have a branch of the Technology University.
Speeches by
The Hon. R.J. Heffron NSW Minister for Education
Mr W.E. Clegg President (1936-55) of the Newcastle Technical Education Advisory Council,
Alderman F.J. Purdue Lord Mayor of Newcastle
at the Opening of Newcastle University College at Tighes Hill Technical College, 3rd December 1951
Mr. Heffron said Newcastle had long deserved University activity. More than once in recent years he had pledged himself to do everything possible to bring this about.
He had promised Newcastle to provide university facilities as soon as there was evidence of a sufficient and stable demand.
He had been happy to so prove of the formation of the University College after the Council of the University of Technology told him that more than 500 diploma students were pursuing courses at Newcastle Technical College at a standard which the Professorial Board required. The transfer next year of Newcastle Technical High School to the building to be vacated by Newcastle Teachers’ College at Broadmeadow would mean accommodation at the Technical College for the University College.
“With these resources available is it too much to hope that one of the most stubborn obstacles to the establishment of day degree courses in Arts and Science will have been removed?” asked Mr. Heffron. “And that the strong local desire for university work of this character to this extent satisfied?’ I shall have more to say about that later.”
College’s Future. Mr. Heffron said one condition he made when agreeing to the accommodation of the University College at the Technical College was that nothing should be done to impair the integrity of Newcastle Technical College. The Technical College had responsibilities in trades and vocational fields outside the ambit of the University. The provision of improved facilities for the college would be pursued.
Mr. Heffron congratulated the Principal of the Technical College (Mr. R. Basden) on his appointment as first Warden of the new University College. The University Council had recognised Mr. Basden’s sterling academic and administrative record. Mr. Basden would continue as Principal of the Technical College.
Mr. Heffron said the link between the University and its first college would not he merely formal. In the past year the diploma courses at the Technical College had been brought for instructional purposes within the University. A fruitful liaison had been formed between the schools of the University and the staffs of the Technical College departments. The main degree courses offered by the University would be offered in Newcastle. These would be Applied Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Civil, Electrical, Mining and Mechanical Engineering. Conversion courses to enable diploma holders of Science and Engineering to qualify for a degree were available, and would be expanded when necessary.
Some Newcastle students had completed their conversion courses and would be among the first to receive the first degree awards next year. Other degree courses, such as Architecture and Metallurgy, would be established as soon as there was a justifiable demand and the staff could be assembled.
Existing diploma courses would be expanded. This should reassure many people. The courses were deservedly popular because of the peculiar demands of local Industries. This was in no way a concession. Diploma courses would continue to be a recognised and respected course of instruction in the University College.
There was no question of the degree course ousting the diploma, he said. The University and industry agreed on this. There was a need for both qualifications. The University College would impartially cater for each.
The Council of the University had agreed on the principle of progression to a degree by a diploma course, followed by a part-time conversion course. Methods of introducing part-time conversion courses would be investigated as soon as possible.
Some were available in Chemistry. Chemical Engineering and Mechanical Engineering.
Research Plan. Mr. Heffron said research would be sponsored in Newcastle to meet the demands of industry. The research facilities of the parent University would be freely available.
He thanked the Technical Education District Council for its work. He had been fortunate that in all technical education problems he had had the vision and advice of Mr. W. E. Clegg, Manager of Commonwealth Steel Ltd. The District Council had a liaison with industry that was a model for other groups. Because of their efforts, industry had contributed finance which enabled the erection and equipping of buildings that were the envy of other technical colleges in Australia and abroad. They had endowed the college with wise counsel and unflagging support. The University College could not have been started without the group’s support.
Mr. Heffron said the professional and lecture staff would be of the highest quality. On them – plus the intelligent and loyal support of the people of Newcastle – depended the future of the University College.
Mr. Clegg, President of Newcastle Technical Education District Council, said the group’s labours had not been in vain. He assurcd Mr. Heffron that it would give all aid possible to the new University College. Remoteness or financial considerations should not prevent young people from pursuing higher education.
The Lord Mayor (Ald. Purdue) said he noted that not later than 1952 Newcastle would have an academic university. The establishment of the College was a step towards this. Much thought and vision had gone into the work of making it a reality.
Newcastle University College’s First Graduates
Read all about the Newcastle University College’s First Graduates from the Faculty of Science, the Class of 1953 – James Eshott Carr, A.S.T.C. Ernest Allan Walpole, A.S.T.C. and James Alexander Mackie, A.S.T.C.
View more Newcastle University College
Conferring of Degrees Booklets here:
The July 1954 Newcastle University College Booklet
View more Newcastle University College Handbooks here:
https://livinghistories.newcastle.edu.au/nodes/view/68037
Opus Magazine (1954-1964)
Click the link to view digitised versions of the original Opus Magazines published from 1954-1964.
https://livinghistories.newcastle.edu.au/nodes/view/67527
The Newcastle University College Revues 1958-1965
Click the link to view the post that brings together information, including original recordings, video histories and newsclippings on the Newcastle University College Revues and the students that composed and created these performances.
Vale Edward (Ted) Brennan – Newcastle University College Student Leader
Founding Mothers and Fathers
UON60: Chasing Our Pioneering Tales – Founding Mothers & Fathers Speak!
The Throsby Creek Regattas
Students at the Newcastle University College would also partake in hi-jinks and antics during the Throsby Creek Regattas, where they would build makeshift floating craft and try to sail them on Throsby Creek with mixed results. Note sure pianos would float.
We have a collection of photographs of one of these events, circa 1960 that were donated to us by Bob Scobie.
View them here: https://livinghistories.newcastle.edu.au/nodes/view/12 and
https://www.flickr.com/photos/uon/albums/72157624742259501/
“On the 10th May 1961 he officiated at the annual Newcastle University College regatta in Throsby Creek. He was there to award the cream horn and beer bottle trophies to winners of the boat race. But controversy struck when he began his speech. “Ladies and gentlemen,” he said, and was then hit by a flour bomb on the chin. “On this happy occassion,” he continued, and had another flour bomb emptied over his head. He eventually completed his speech, was cheered, then picked up by the students, who pretended to throw him into the creek, but chaired him away on their shoulders “looking somewhat like a Classical ghost, towards the College.”
Godfrey can also be seen attending the Throsby Creek Regatta from this rare footage from 1963.
Acknowledgements
It hasn’t been an easy task to reconstruct the existing photographs and ceremony of the Opening of Newcastle University College. Even the authoritative, and official University history Looking Back (1992) included an incorrect photograph on page 21, stating that it was from the opening, when it was actually from the 1957 graduation. We can thank Geoff Barcan, and the photograph his mother took of the 1957 ceremony that helped clear that up.
For the record; photographs of the official opening show an Australian flag draped across the table, and a flag draped on the walls of the Sir Edgeworth David Building over the commemorative plaque that The Hon. R. J. Heffron NSW Minister for Education would unveil during the course of the ceremony.
The sequencing of the photographs has been assisted by the Newcastle Morning Herald & Miners’ Advocate report on the day, that described the events as they took place. We went back to the original boxes, some of the photographs had been digitised by Peter Longworth, our first volunteer that digitised over 17000 photographs of the University as part of his dedicated work. We digitised those that Peter had missed and added them in, with the correct date for the set.
We were also able to provide all the audio recordings of the speeches, thanks to the sound engineers at University Radio Station 2NURFM who were kind enough to digitise the original audio tape from 1951.
We always welcome corrections, clarifications and additions, and wish to thank everyone, especially our community volunteers who have helped us to reconstruct the events of over 70 years ago that have helped create the University of Newcastle of today.
Gionni Di Gravio OAM
University Archivist & Chair, Hunter Living Histories
Dear hLH ,
Thanks so much for this timely gift on Australia Day Weekend 2025.
Dr Vera Deacon would be thrilled. She worked very hard as a NTC student to back the political pressure from the Newcastle community for the establishment of our own University in its own right!
I am certain that Jude has done an article on the women involved in that lobby. None are visible in this official coverage. Dear Gionni can this please be rectified? Vera will be much happier … wherever she is in the Cosmos …. to see the Hat and Glove Brigade along with all those grey suits!
Love and bestest
Rilla
Marilla North
24/01/2025
Certainly. Send it through and we’ll add it in.
I’m sure the work of Dr Jude Conway would be easily accessible to the University’s archivist. It’s worth noting that women’s unacknowledged labour is partly what perpetuates the problem – that is, their invisibility.
My father James Eshott Carr graduated in Chemical Engineering (Hon 2) in the first graduation ceremony in 1953 held at the Newcastle City Hall. I donated a 16 mm film of the beginning of the ceremony to the UoN archives together with other relevant artifacts associated with his graduation.
My father, Jack Ticehurst, was one of three graduates in Mechanical Engineering in March 1955. I believe this was the first graduation ceremony at the Edgeworth David Building. The HLH site has another ceremony proceedings in 1953 on its website, but this is clearly a Sydney ceremony and is for the University of Technology and not the Newcastle College. I note John Carr’s entry of one in City Hall in 1953. I suspect these too, would have been bridging degree courses from people who had already done a Diploma- given the timing.
Dad had already done a Diploma with the Technical College, so I assume he did a bridging course at night with the new University College. He was working at Rylands and went on to an engineering and management career with the Wire Industries of BHP. The other graduates were Jimmy Beath who worked for Stewarts and Lloyds and Goninans; and Robert Upfold who my mother tells me became a Professor at Wollongong.
My 94 year old mother still remembers the ceremony, being pregnant with my brother.
I have a photo of the ceremony (black and white) if you are interested.
Thanks for the comment Stephen. Here is the 1953 Newcastle University College booklet for the Newcastle Town Hall Graduation https://uoncc.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/1953-conferringofdegreesnuc.pdf Happy to include your 1955 photograph as well.
It is fantastic to have these records preserved.
I was a student at the newly autonomous University of Newcastle from 1965 to 1968 (BSc Hons and University medal). President of the SRC 1967-68. PhD 1969 to 1971.
I remember you Brailey! You helped us get your thesis up online in one of the early pilots. Regards, Gionni