Discovering the campus (Adeshola)

Sometimes the uni campus seems pretty small, like when you run into about 10 people you know in the space of a couple of hours. It’s as if you can’t walk into Baillieu, cross the South Lawn or even go into the toleit (yes, the toleit… I ran into a girl from my primary school in there last week! ) without seeing a familiar face. This can be great at times, although when you’re rushing to a tutorial you’re already late for, not so great. Then, it can seem really really scarily big. Take for example, my Monday afternoon where I have to run across campus in the space of 5 minutes. Royal Parade to Swanston Street, weaving through the swarms of people can be quite a journey!

But most of the times the uni campus is quite familiar, yet always with hidden “nooks and crannies” to be found. Today, I went for coffee with my friend Sylvia and we sipped on our drinks in the System Garden, which is located near the Zoology building near Royal Parade. It’s a gorgeous botanical graden, which was established in 1856 (according to the Uni website). It’s really serene and leafy, the perfect place to escape the business of the main campus.

Here are some other cool places/things I have discovered on campus thus far:

Redmond Barry, 10th floor and beyond : If you’re a Psych student, no doubt you’ve been at least to the 10th floor of Redmond Barry. For those of you who haven’t or are asking “Redmond who?”, it’s the really tall building (12 floors high) near Tin Alley, often confused for the Richard Berry building and home to Psychology subjects. The view from the 10th floor is amazing! On one side, you’ve got a spectacular full view of the Atheltics track, the Colleges (some of which look like Hogwarts from this angle), on the other, a great view of the city buildings from a distance.

College Crescent: I had never done this walk until today. It takes you right around the Athletics track, and around the back of the different residential colleges. I’d never been that far north on the uni before so was nice to explore it today!

The Baillieu Library toilets: So toilets are toilets, nothing that special, but the one’s in the Baillieu are oh so magnificent! The toleit doors have a print on them  of vintage books so that when the toleit doors are closed, it looks like a vintage book shelf. Very clever and artistic in my opinion, and I was quite amazed when I first walked in!

What amazing places on campus have you found that you didn’t know existed? I’d love to hear other people’s experiences and look forward to discovering more of the hidden parts of Melbourne uni!

Adeshola