Newman College is an Australian Roman Catholic co-educational residential college affiliated with the University of Melbourne. It houses about 225 undergraduate students and about 55 postgraduate students and tutors.
The college is named after John Henry Newman, a former Anglican and major figure in the Oxford Movement who became a Catholic in the 19th century. Although affiliated with the University of Melbourne, a small number of students attend the Australian Catholic University, RMIT University and Monash University's Parkville campus.
The college motto is Luceat Lux Vestra, translated from Latin as "Let Your Light Shine".
Student life
Facilities The majority of undergraduates live in the Carr and Mannix wings, which flank the domed dining room and are connected by a parapet. Undergraduates also live in the balcony rooms in Donovan wing, and in Fleming House at 950 Swanston St. Graduate students are accommodated in a variety of terrace houses opposite the college on Swanston St and in self-contained apartments behind the Donovan wing.
Students' Club All undergraduate members of Newman College are accepted into the Newman College Students' Club, a self-governing incorporated organisation which runs day-to-day and special events in the college. A general committee is elected annually. The portfolios include vice-president, secretary, community service, culture, equity and female and male sports representatives.
Postgraduates All members of the college administration, as well as tutors, academics in residence and postgraduate students (and some senior undergraduate students), comprise the Senior Common Room (SCR). Like the Students' Club, the SCR annually elect a president, secretary and treasurer, among other portfolios, to organise several events throughout the year.
Co-curricular activities The college places a strong emphasis on participation in co-curricular activities, with music, sport and the dramatic arts playing a large role in life at Newman. Soirées are held many times throughout the year, showcasing the talents of the students, with the Peter L'Estrange SJ Prize awarded to the best performing artist in college. The Michael Scott SJ Prize is the annual art competition. The Albert Power SJ Medallion for Debating is named after Newman's second rector, Albert Power SJ. The Choir of Newman College, established in 2002, is a chapel and concert choir.
Newman has a strong sporting culture, having won more than half of the intercollegiate football premierships ever played. The college is also a strong participant in intercollegiate art, music and culture events, winning the 2022 Intercollegiate Culture Cup.
Scholarships and bursaries Newman awards financial aid in the form of scholarships and bursaries to around 75% of residents. Scholarships are awarded to both domestic and international students, of total value of up to $10,000.
Newman applicants may also apply for the University of Melbourne Residential College Access Scholarship, which supports Indigenous students and regional students from a disadvantaged financial background to stay in college during their degree.
Public seminars The college hosts regular Irish studies seminars which are open to the public.
Archbishop Daniel Mannix Memorial Lecture
The Archbishop Daniel Mannix Memorial Lecture, formerly referred to as the Daniel Mannix Memorial Lecture, or simply Mannix Memorial Lecture, was started by the Students' Club in 1977 and is a highlight of the university and college calendar. It is named in honour of the third Archbishop of Melbourne, Daniel Mannix, who was a driving force behind the formation of the college and for improving the opportunities of Catholic students.
The second lecture, by Sir Zelman Cowen, also marked the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the foundation of Newman College. His lecture was later republished as a book on Sir Isaac Isaacs by Melbourne University Press in 1979. Similarly, Sir Bernard Callinan's lecture was later published as a book on Sir John Monash.
Past lecturers have included Malcolm Fraser, Kim Beazley, Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen, Patrick Dodson, Ita Buttrose, Sir Gustav Nossal, Alexander Downer, Manning Clark, Peter Garrett, Christine Nixon, Justice Alastair Nicholson and Tanya Plibersek. +YearSpeakerTopic1977Bartholomew Augustine SantamariaArchbishop Mannix and his contribution to the art of public leadership in Australia1978Sir Zelman CowenSir Isaac Isaacs1979Sir Paul HasluckSir Robert Menzies and his contribution to the art of public leadership in Australia1980Sir Bernard CallinanSir John Monash1981Ranald MacdonaldDavid Syme1982Dr Philip LawSir Douglas Mawson1983Sir Ninian StephenChief Justice Higinbotham1984Professor Leonie KramerJames McAuley1985Professor Manning ClarkRt. Hon. John Curtin1986Patrick McCaughey Fred Williams1987Rt. Hon. Malcolm FraserSir Robert Menzies: in search of balance1988Rt. Hon. Sir Harry GibbsSir Samuel Griffith1989Ita ButtroseMother Mary MacKillop1990Sir Joh Bjelke-PetersenSir Henry Bolte1991John RalphSir Maurice Mawby1992Peter GarrettDr H.C. 'Nugget' Coombs1994Hon. Alexander DownerThe Constitutional Forefathers1995Hon. Gareth EvansRt. Hon. Dr H. V. Evatt1996Patrick DodsonPaddy Djiagween1998Sir Gustav NosselSir Frank McFarlane Burnett1999Hon. Kim BeazleyHon. Gough Whitlam2000Maj. General Peter CosgroveLt. Gen. Sir Leslie Morshead2001Dr. Peter HollingworthFr. Gerard Tucker2002Hon. John ButtonImagining Leadership2004Rev. Tim CostelloProfessor Manning Clark2005John LewisMan, Leadership and Machine2006Waleed AlyMichael Long: Sport and Public Leadership2007Julian Burnside Leading the Wrong Way2008Sir James GobboCaroline Chisholm and Profiles in Leadership2009Hon. Alastair NicholsonA Failure in Leadership? A Reluctance to Enforce Human Rights Requirements in Australia2010Susan CrennanRecollections of Daniel Mannix and Vincent Buckley2011Christine Nixon APMLeadership in Challenging Times2012Hon. Barry Jones AOGough Whitlam in context: a revisionist exercise2013Hon. John BrumbyFederation - The Power and the Promise2015Michael McGirrPeter Steele - Priest, Poet and Inspiration2016Hon. Kevin AndrewsJoseph Lyons2018Gabi HollowsThe life and legacy of Fred Hollows2022Tanya PlibersekContemporary Australian politics and political leadership2025Hon. Malcolm Turnbull ACDefending Australia’s Democracy in a Might-Is-Right World
Endowed chairs Newman College hosts a number of endowed chairs at the University of Melbourne. They include the Gerry Higgins Chair of Irish Studies, the Gerry Higgins Lecturer in Philosophy, the Gerry Higgins Lecturer in Medieval Art History, the Gerry Higgins Lecturer in Shakespeare Studies and the Gerry Higgins Chair of Positive Psychology.
Buildings
The original set of campus buildings were built during 1916 to 1918 and were designed by American architects Walter Burley Griffin and Marion Mahony Griffin. The Burley Griffins also designed furniture for the college, including distinctive chairs, tables and bookshelves for the dining room and the original bedrooms of the college. Much of this furniture remains in day-to-day use at the college, but some of it has found its way into various art galleries and private collections. This was recognised by its inclusion on the Australian National Heritage List on 21 September 2005, citing "one of the best examples of Griffin’s architecture in Australia" and "Newman College is significant as an outstanding expression of Griffin’s architectural style". The stonework has had substantial renovation to repair over 80 years of damage through exposure and natural degradation of the original stone and received the Australian Institute of Architects (Victorian Chapter) Heritage Architecture Award 2010.
Allan & Maria Myers Academic Centre The Allan & Maria Myers Academic Centre is a library shared by St Mary's College and Newman College. It is open to students 24 hours a day. It offers a program of public events and hosts several special collections that are available to researchers.
The centre houses the Newman College Irish collection (O'Donnell Collection), which was formed in 1924 with a bequest to the college. It originally consisted of around 700 books and 300 pamphlets, many in the Irish language, which were the personal library of Nicholas O’Donnell, a Melbourne Irish language scholar of the early 20th century. Around half the collection consists of historical works. The rest deals with language, literature, biography, religion, politics, description and travel, with some works on music and a few on education.
Every year an O'Donnell Fellowship is bestowed on a visiting scholar so that the holder may do research in the O'Donnell Collection.
Administration At its opening in 1918 the administration of the college was entrusted to the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) who continue its administration to the present day.
The college council, chaired by the Archbishop of Melbourne, oversees the governance of the college. Members include the Rector, the other three diocesan bishops of Victoria (Sandhurst, Ballarat and Sale dioceses), college alumni and members of the university. Members are appointed by the Archbishop. Each year the Provost selects two students to be members as student representatives. The presidents of the Students' Club and SCR are observers who reports to the council on the life of the college.
The college council has instituted the positions of provost, deputy provost, dean of studies and dean of students to oversee the everyday administration of the college. The Provost is the official head of the college. These positions are currently held by: Rector: The Very Reverend Daniel Madigan Provost: Guglielmo Gottoli Deputy Provost: Rebecca Daley Dean of Studies: Mitch Robertson Dean of Students: Alicia Deak
The college chaplain and operations manager are also members of the college administration.
Rectors As of 2024, the rector of the college is Daniel Madigan , a Jesuit priest, Islamic studies scholar and academic. Order Title Rector Term start Term end Time in office Notes The Very Rev. James O'Dwyer 1918 1919 years The Very Rev. Albert Power 1919 1923 years The Very Rev. Jeremiah Murphy 1923 1954 years The Very Rev. Philip Gleeson 1954 1961 years The Very Rev. Michael Scott 1961 1968 years The Very Rev. Gerald Daily 1968 1977 years The Very Rev. Brian Fleming 1977 1986 years The Very Rev. William Uren 1987 1990 4 years The Very Rev. Peter L'Estrange 1991 2005 15 years Moved to Campion Hall, Oxford The Very Rev. William Uren 2006 2019 15 years Remains a scholar-in-residence The Very Rev. Frank Brennan 2020 2023 4 years Moved to Brisbane12The Very Rev.Daniel Madigan 2024present
Notable alumni Notable alumni of the college include:
Kevin Andrews – former Australian Cabinet Minister (2001-7) and (2013-15). Mr Andrews served as Minister for Defence (Australia) and was also Father of the House, having been a Member of Parliament continuously from 1991 until 2022. Jim Bowler - geologist and archaeologist, famous for the Lake Mungo remains Frank Brennan – Jesuit priest, human rights lawyer and academic Ben Buckingham - Australian Olympian Peta Credlin – chief of staff to the former Prime Minister of Australia, Tony Abbott Greg Dening - Australian historian Neale Daniher – former AFL footballer (Essendon Football Club), 2025 Australian of the Year Marg Downey – comedian and actress Frank Galbally – criminal defence lawyer John Galbally – former Labor politician Sir James Gobbo – 25th Governor of Victoria and former Victorian Supreme Court judge, a former Rhodes Scholar James P. Gorman – CEO and chairman of Morgan Stanley Sir Gregory Gowans - left-leaning intellectual, lawyer and former Victorian Supreme Court judge Jack Hibberd – playwright John Mulvaney - archaeologist and historian Allan Myers – barrister, philanthropist and chancellor of the University of Melbourne Brenda Niall – biographer, literary critic and journalist