Heritage gates to receive facelift

The Mitchell gates as they appeared in the 1930s.
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Detail of the Mitchell gates as they appear today.
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Thursday, 18 July 2002

A slice of history at the University of Adelaide is disappearing for seven months to undergo an intricate and painstaking restoration.

The Sir William Mitchell Gates have been a feature of the University's North Terrace Campus since 1934. Donated by then Vice- Chancellor Sir William Mitchell, the gates were originally constructed facing onto Frome Road as the start of a boulevard leading to the grand entrance of the Barr Smith Library.

They were moved to their present location opposite the Uni Footbridge on Victoria Drive in the early 1960s.

The gates are listed on the Australian Heritage Commission's Register of the National Estate.

Today (Thursday, July 18) the gates will be removed and taken for restoration. This will include:

• repair of all metal work, including repainting;
• repair of existing plaster columns and granite bases;
• restoration of the University crest to its original state.

A significant donation from the University's Chancellor, Mr Robert Champion de Crespigny, has enabled the restoration to get underway.

The work is due to be completed by the end of February 2003.

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