Assembly Hall (Nurses' Memorial)

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HistoryThe Assembly Hall, formally known as the Nurses’ Memorial Assembly Hall, opened in 1957 to mark the 75th anniversary of MLC. It also honours the MLC Old Collegians who had served in the two World Wars and other military conflicts. The aim of the new assembly hall was to provide a space large enough to accommodate the entire school and to create better performance facilities. Ironically, by the time the Hall opened, the school population had surpassed the 1100 seats available in the new building. Architect, Harry Norris was engaged to design the building and it appears that it was his office that suggested that the panels on either side of the stage might make a good place for murals. MLC then set about deciding what the content of such murals might be. Notes in the MLC Archives indicate that the murals’ purpose was to “emphasize the function of the Hall as a focal point for school activities” and therefore a visual depiction of the motto was chosen. The City of Boroondara Heritage Citation states that The Assembly Hall is “of creative significance as one of the most confidently and successfully designed [buildings] in Melbourne during the post war period, and as an outstandingly intact example of the post-war designs of Harry Norris’ office.” A significant feature of the Assembly Hall are the dramatic murals on either side of the stage. They were painted by George Julian Browning AM (1918-2000) who was a war artist during World War II. His biography on the Australian War Memorial (AWM) website states he was born in Blackburn VIC, studied art at the National Gallery of Victoria School and RMIT, and during WW2 served as an official war artist attached to the Military History Section in New Guinea and Borneo (1943-46). The program for the opening of the Assembly Hall describes the religious nature of the murals. The left-hand mural depicts the MLC student, past, present and future, in her relationship with God. The golden yellow ‘fire’ descending from above denotes the Holy Spirit “who imparts to the girl her Ideal, symbolized by the star.” The star shape is similar to that of a crown which shows that the Ideal can be obtained, while the red thorns warn of the challenges that accompany all real achievement. The decorations behind the girl symbolize her work and recreation. The right-hand panel represents the life of the student at home. The flames are like sunrays, showing the physical and spiritual warmth of family, and the girl is shown now as a homemaker and mother, whose children look to her for “guidance and example.” The faces and garments in the murals were intentionally abstract so as not to reflect a particular person or time-period. This allows the viewer to “place” herself in the paintings. Address207, Barkers Road, Kew, Victoria, 3101, AustraliaDate1957 - Building StatusCurrent Building

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Assembly Hall (Nurses' Memorial)