Gourlay building opened
Wednesday 20 February 2008
In an historic moment for the College, Trinity’s new residential building was officially opened this evening, more than 40 years after it was first conceived.
Mrs Louise Gourlay cuts the ribbon to open the new building, watched by members of her family, the Archbishop and the Warden. (Photo: Andrew Murdoch)
Chairman of the Board, Mr Bill Cowan, also announced that the building had been named ‘Gourlay’ in honour of John and Louise Gourlay and their family – long-standing and generous benefactors to Trinity. Sadly, Mr John Gourlay, an alumnus and Fellow of the College, died in April 2007.
Describing the family's many contributions as having ‘set a benchmark’ at Trinity, Mr Cowan said, ‘The Gourlay benchmark is not only defined by their financial help – which has been considerable – but also by their continuing unstinting work for the College, together with the wisdom they have provided to us over much of the past 30 years'.
Before cutting a red ribbon to officially open the new building, Mrs Louise Gourlay said of the College, ‘John and our three sons loved this place and their time in it, and we, as his family, continue to support it with pride’. She was accompanied by sons Andrew and Jonno, and daughter Emma. Her son William is currently living in London.
The building was blessed by the Archbishop of Melbourne, the Most Revd Dr Philip Freier, and the Warden of Trinity College, Associate Professor Andrew McGowan, thanked all those who had contributed to the planning, construction, management and funding of this $5million project.
Long known affectionately as the 'Woodheap' because of the store of firewood that formerly occupied the site, the Gourlay building provides 22 en suite rooms for students in the later years of their courses, a tutor’s flat and a large, multi-purpose room in the basement. On the top floor are two very attractive and comfortable flats for visiting scholars.
However, the addition of these new rooms does not represent a significant increase in student numbers, but rather a leap forward in the quality of life that the College offers its resident students. Last year, an equivalent number of small rooms in the Cowan building were doubled in size and refurbished to improve the accommodation available in this older building.
Speaking of these ‘exciting times here at Trinity’, Mr Cowan also told guests: ‘The Trinity Board is hoping that this [Gourlay] building - together with some other important initiatives - will represent more than the mere turning of a page in the history of the College. With your help we believe this period could prove to be the start of an important new chapter in the life of Trinity.’