New portraits in Hall

Over the winter break, we made some adjustments to the Hall that have allowed for the addition of three portraits to be added to the walls, illustrating important aspects of the College's story.

Changes behind High Table have seen College founding father, Bishop Charles Perry, brought back on to this wall to sit alongside the inaugural two Wardens, Dr Alexander Leeper (1876–1918) and John 'Jock' Behan (1918–1946). Perry was Melbourne’s first Anglican Bishop and a driving force in the establishment of both secondary and tertiary Church of England education, realised first with the founding of Melbourne Grammar School (1858) and subsequently by Trinity College (1870).

Eminent surgeon Dr Susan Lim and former alumna of the College's Women’s Hostel and later University of Melbourne Chancellor, Fay Marles, remain important illustrations of the diversity of the College community.

Susan was one of the earliest female residents in the years immediately after the College went co-residential in 1974, as well as reflecting the earliest engagements with our neighbours in Asian to provide high quality education. We are delighted that the relationship continues decades later with her daughter currently in residence.

In 1977, the same year that Lim came into residence, Fay Marles was appointed Victoria's first Commissioner of Equal Opportunity. She was the guiding voice in the formation of our Indigenous programs in the early 2000s, and helped develop the relationship the College now shares with the Marika family of Yolngu people in North East Arnhem Land. Our Marika collection of artwork has grown over the past decade to now become an important presence on the College walls.

Additionally, two further works can now be accommodated on the Dining Hall's eastern wall behind High Table. In this first rehang, we are delighted to be able to showcase the portraits of eminent Australian historian and alumnus Manning Clark, painted by equally eminent artist Arthur Boyd; and fellow alumnus and art patron Sir Andrew Grimwade, a work painted by Clifton Pugh and currently on loan to the College from the NGV.

Two portraits that had been in storage in recent years have now been able to be reintroduced to the Hall. The two paintings by artist Caroline Williams were commissioned by the College Art Committee in 2005, following the 30th anniversary of the College becoming co-residential, and acknowledge our earlier advocacy of gender equality in tertiary education.

The two works depict Lilian Helen Alexander, Trinity's first female student and the inaugural female graduate of an Australian University who was accepted by Warden Alexander Leeper in 1883; and Florence Stawell (pictured), one of the earliest female students to come into the Trinity Women's Hostel when it was established in 1886, and a subsequent noted classics scholar. 

These recent changes to the Hall’s presentation bring the Dining Hall up to its full capacity, with no fewer than 32 art works by some of Australia's most recognisable portrait artists of the last century now gracing the walls.

Read more about Trinity's art collection here