University House

About

University House (ANU) operates as the university’s ceremonial centre, a members’ club and boutique on-campus hotel and residence that brings together ANU staff, postgraduates, alumni and visitors for social, academic and hospitality activities, including accommodation, dining, functions and member services at the Acton campus. More information can be found on their about page.

Events

University House runs member-only and public events including weekly Hall dinners for residents, private dining and functions (conferences, weddings, meetings), wine tastings and restaurant/bar events via Symposium, campus out-catering and bespoke events. During the House refurbishment, many events have been run from Symposium (Kambri) and University House@Rimmer. Details about upcoming events can be found on their events page.

Programs

The House appoints Early Career Academic Fellows who connect with residents and mentor students. University House also works with the ANU Alumni Relations team on alumni events and provides member events and activities intended to foster scholarly and professional networking. More information about programs can be accessed on their programs page.

Membership

University House offers membership, with information and an interim application form available via the Membership team. Specific fee schedules are not published on the public membership page, and during the extended closure, membership fees have been waived. Prospective or current members are asked to contact membership.unihouse@anu.edu.au for current terms. Further details can be found on their membership page.

Eligibility

Historically, University House has served ANU faculty, staff and postgraduate students and welcomes ANU alumni. Governance and membership structures also include representation from academic staff, elected members, community representatives and student representatives. More about eligibility can be found on their eligibility page.

Reciprocal Clubs

Members retain reciprocal rights with partner clubs, although a full list of reciprocal institutions is not published on the public site. Additional information can be found on their reciprocal clubs page.

Facilities

Reported hotel and guest facilities include queen and twin rooms, television, telephone, Wi-Fi, large writing desks, tea/coffee facilities, air-conditioning and central heating, many rooms with baths or balconies, an in-house library, business centre, free parking for in-house guests, and on-site laundry and dry-cleaning services. More details can be found on their facilities page.

Dining Options

University House hospitality offerings include Boffins (restaurant), Fellows Bar & Café (operating from temporary/pop-up locations during the House refurbishment) and Symposium by University House (wine bar and restaurant at the Kambri precinct) with seasonal menus, wine tastings and small-plate offerings. More information is available on their dining options page.

Guest Information

University House provides on-campus accommodation and offers special alumni rates for returning alumni. During the extended closure, the House has negotiated concessional accommodation rates with participating Canberra hotels and relocated event bookings to temporary venues. More guest information can be found on their guest information page.

History

University House opened on 16 February 1954, designed by Brian Lewis, as the first ANU building and a residential college for faculty and postgraduates. It is recognised for its mid-20th century design and art, and has been undergoing extensive repairs and refurbishment since sustaining major damage in the 20 January 2020 hailstorm. More about its history can be found on their history page.

Seasonal Operations

The main University House buildings have been closed for repairs since the January 2020 hailstorm. Hospitality and events have continued from Symposium (Kambri) and temporary venues. The site’s most recent public timeline indicates a projected reopening in mid-2026. More details are available on their seasonal operations page.

Contact Information

University House is located at 1 Balmain Crescent, Acton ACT 2601. The main phone number is +61 2 6125 5211. For specific inquiries, you can contact Symposium at symposium.unihouse@anu.edu.au or +61 436 814 344, Events at events.unihouse@anu.edu.au or +61 2 6125 5270, Membership at membership.unihouse@anu.edu.au, and Accommodation at accommodation.unihouse@anu.edu.au. More contact details can be found on their contact page.