Helping heritage one bite at a time

Guests were treated to more than just good food at the University's recent heritage fundraising dinner.

More than 150 of Adelaide's leading business figures enjoyed an up close and personal experience of some of the University's heritage-listed buildings - Elder Hall, the Mitchell building and Bonython Hall - at a progressive dinner held to raise funds for their ongoing restoration and preservation.

The dinner raised more than $150,000 for the University's Heritage Foundation, marking a return to the private benefaction that has played so vital a role in the University's development over the last 134 years.

The sold-out event was the brainchild of the University of Adelaide's Heritage Foundation Chair, property developer Theo Maras AM, who said he was "overwhelmed" by the outstanding generosity of Adelaide's business sector.

"Our initial target figure of $100,000 has been well and truly exceeded thanks to their generosity," Mr Maras said. "The profits will be used to restore, preserve and conserve the University's iconic, heritage-listed buildings, not only for future generations of students, but the whole community."

The University of Adelaide's Heritage Foundation hosted the event to highlight the cultural and historic significance of these buildings to the University and to the State.

While the oldest buildings of the University - including the Mitchell Building at 126 years old, Elder Hall at 108, and Bonython Hall, a relative youngster at 72 - might be getting on in years, their relevance to today's University is stronger than ever.

Not only are the buildings in use every day, housing everything from administrative staff to student concerts, they are landmarks appreciated state-wide, and drawcards for the wider public.

"The interest received from across Adelaide's business community goes to show that all South Australians have great pride in these buildings and are keen to see them preserved. They are a wonderful asset and a distinct part of Adelaide's cultural life," said Mr Maras.

The University has spent more than $5 million on conservation plans alone for these three buildings since 2005.

The conservation work on Bonython Hall was the only Australian project honoured in the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage Awards in 2007. UNESCO's Regional Advisor for Culture, Mr Richard Engelhardt, attended the event from Bangkok to present the award to the University's Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor James McWha. ■

STORY STORY LANA GUINEAY