Boat Club Extension Launch

Volume 7 Number 6 June 5 - July 10 2011

The $2.9 million Boat House extension brings a state of the art two storey extension to the heritage listed 1908 original structure. Photograph by Peter Casamento, Casamento Photography.
The $2.9 million Boat House extension brings a state of the art two storey extension to the heritage listed 1908 original structure. Photograph by Peter Casamento, Casamento Photography.

The University of Melbourne’s Boat House extension was officially opened by Vice Chancellor Professor Glynn Davis on Tuesday 10th May 2011. James Garland reports.

With the guest list including names such as the Governor of Victoria the Honourable Alex Chernov, Provost Professor John Dewar, Senior Vice-Principal Ian Marshman, Melbourne University Boat Club President Peter Antonie and Rowing Australia President Colin Smith, the significance of the launch was palpable.

The proposal to extend the Boathouse had been considered by the Boat Club, MUS and the University for some time, primarily because of the need to house an increasing fleet and the limited capacity to house it in the existing space. Boat Club President and former Olympic Gold medallist Peter Antonie was a significant driver for the project.

The opening of the Boathouse extension is a significant day for sport at the University and another step towards achieving its vision of being the leading sporting university in the country. The University’s decision to provide much needed funding for sporting infrastructure projects including the Boat House extension was critical in bringing this project to fruition.

Built in 1908, the original Boat House is now heritage listed. In 1973, it received an additional wing to the west of the building followed by an extensive internal renovation completed in 2001. Ten years on, the $2.9 million Boat House extension now boasts a two storey construction with a mezzanine level. The ground floor provides significant level of additional boat racking space while the external design both preserves and enhances the iconic historical building whilst creating a dramatic new façade that blends old and new in a creative and interesting way, with stunning views of the city and Melbourne’s renowned sports precinct.

“The extension means that MUBC now has the best facilities of any boat club on the Yarra, and reflects our ambition for the club to be one of the best in the world,” says Provost, Professor John Dewar.

Architects Lovell Chen (Kai Chen as the lead architect along with Milica Tumbas) were engaged by Property and Campus Services and worked with Melbourne University Sport, various members of the Boat Club and Melbourne Council City to design and eventually secure approval for the extension.

The Melbourne University Boat Club is 152 years old and is arguably one of the leading boat clubs in the country and the leading high-performance sporting club at the University. The club continues to develop numerous national and international representatives, something that the University is justifiably proud of.

www.mubc.asn.au/