Students in the library at International House in the 1990s. — International House residents in the library in the Hilda Stevenson Building. Reproduced from International House: More than just a place to stay [brochure]. International House Archives.

‘The most urgent need’: The IH Library

When the first residents arrived at International House in 1957, there was no library as such. A small collection of books, newspapers and magazines near the common room provided reading materials, but a library was yet to come. Interviewed by the newspaper the Warrnambool Standard in 1957, the first Warden of International House Brian Jones said that a library was ‘the most urgent need’, adding, ‘I think a library comes before central heating’ (“Funds needed,” 1957; see too Jones, 1957).

David Lynton (from Australia), Kritaya Lapongmal (from Thailand) and Chua Cher Ching (from Malaysia) using the book collection at International House, 1961. International House Archives.

In 1962, the Rotary Club of Melbourne began an appeal for funds to establish a library at International House (Dimmick, 1962). This new library was to be named in honour of Sir Angus Mitchell, the first Australian to become president of Rotary International (Shiell, 1962, p. 52).

The academic side of life will be greatly aided in 1963 by the completion of the Sir Angus Mitchell Memorial Library at the House.
Shiell (1962), p. 52

Black and white photograph of four male students in the library at International House, The University of Melbourne — Students in the first Angus Mitchell Library in the Samuel Wadham Wing at International House, 1967. National Archives of Australia. A1501, A7475/7.

At a ‘small sherry party’ the following year, the Rotary Club provided an additional donation to purchase books for the library. There were also donations of books from the British Council, as well as from individuals including Richard Casey, Ivy Brookes and George Adams.

Extract from the minutes of a meeting of the International House Council, 1963. International House Archives.

The Rotary Club of Balwyn later established the Rotarian George Alcorn Memorial Library Fund to purchase books for the International House Library. George Alcorn was the librarian of the Supreme Court of Victoria from 1961 to 1987 and a member of the International House Council (Reynolds, 2010, p. 60).

In 1972, the International House Auxiliaries began fundraising for a new and expanded library to be housed in the Hilda Stevenson Building. The library was featured in promotional materials in the 1990s, with photographs showing students consulting the library’s card catalogue and working in the computer room.

International House residents in the computer room in the Hilda Stevenson Building. Reproduced from International House: More than just a place to stay [brochure]. International House Archives.

The library moved again when the Founders’ Building opened. The International House Auxiliaries again supported the library, with the Law Group donating new shelving and furniture.

References and further reading

Dimmick, S. (1962). Warden’s Report No. 2, International House Council Meeting No. 2, 8 May 1962. International House Archives.

Funds needed to complete International House. (1957, October 23). Warrnambool Standard.

International House (n.d.). International House: More than just a place to stay [Brochure]. International House, The University of Melbourne.

Jones, B. (1957, October 12). International House: A vision realised. The Age, p. 2.

Parnaby, O. (2000/2006). Mitchell, Sir Angus Sinclair (1884–1961). Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/mitchell-sir-angus-sinclair-11136/text19833

Reynolds, S. (2010). The dead letter office: Archival records at the Library of the Supreme Court of Victoria. Australian Academic & Research Libraries, 41(1), 54-63. doi: 10.1080/00048623.2010.10721434

Shiell, R. (1962). President’s report, 1962. Satadal, 51-52.