The Scheps building at International House, April 1976. International House Archives

Why is Scheps that shape?

The hexadecagonal (sixteen-sided) Scheps building is a familiar Royal Parade landmark. But why is Scheps that shape?

Scheps appears to be a ‘rescaled version’ of a similar, sixteen-sided building in Hobart in Tasmania, the Wrest Point Casino (Larkins, 2018, p. 84). However, the casino was built by a different construction company, A. V. Jennings Industries (“Jennings Design and Construction”, 1976; Tasmanian Heritage Council, 2021, 7).

Even before it opened, the shape of Scheps was gaining attention. An article in The Australian newspaper described it as ‘graceful, but also practical’ (“Study in the Round”, 1971). The University of Melbourne student newspaper Farrago pointed out that it was ‘both functional and economical’ (“New International House”, 1971).

Article about the Scheps building from Farrago, 11 June 1971, from a book of newspaper cuttings held in the International House Archives.
Farrago, 11 June 1971 from a book of newspaper cuttings held in the International House Archives.
The Scheps building at International House, 1974. International House Archives.

This short video (no audio) from the International House Archives shows some scenes from Scheps in the early 1970s:

Scheps wasn’t always the shape it is now. A single-level annexe (shown in the photograph below) once housed a common room and games area, and was later the IH gym. This section was demolished to make space for the George Hicks Building.

Colour photograph of the Scheps building at International House, including the section showing the old gym.
The Scheps building at International House, including the section housing the gym. International House Archives.
Colour photograph of the gym in the Scheps building at International House, the University of Melbourne.
Gym in the Scheps building at International House. International House Archives.

References and further reading

Desai, L. (2022). Fifty years of Scheps. https://blogs.unimelb.edu.au/international-house-melbourne/2022/04/08/fifty-years-of-scheps/

Jennings Design and Construction [advertisement] (1976, July 27). Canberra Times, 5. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article110819065

Larkins, F. (2018). International House Melbourne: Sixty years of fraternitas. Melbourne University Publishing.

New International House (1971, June 11). Farrago.

Study in the round (1971, June 18). The Australian.

Tasmanian Heritage Council (2021, August 6). Tasmanian heritage register datasheet 7496: Wrest Point Hotel Casino [unpublished report]. Tasmanian Heritage Council, Hobart, Tasmania.