George Murray Building

Part of the Union Building Group, which also includes the Lady Symon Building, Western Annexe and cloisters and the multi-level Union House.

Plans and cost estimates prepared by the architect Walter Bagot of Woods, Bagot, Jory and Laybourne-Smith were presented to a General Meeting of the Adelaide University Union in July 1921.  The selection of a suitable site was subsequently discussed, as was the need to raise funds for the building project, an issue that was to have significant impact  on the progress of the project.

It was not until August 1926 that sufficient funds became available when Sir Josiah Symon, a University Council member, donated 10,000 pounds for the erection of the proposed Women's Union Building, requesting that it be named the Lady Symon Building.  After land was acquired for a suitable site work begain in 1927.

The foundation stone of the first part of the Union Buildings complex, the Lady Symon Building, was laid by Sir Josiah Symon on 25 October 1927.  Work also commenced on the Refectory and part of the memorial cloisters and were completed in March 1929.

A shortage of funds prevented further work on the remainder of the Complex - the Men's Union Building and north and east cloisters - until 1936 when the Chancellor, Sir George Murray, donated 10,000 pounds for completion of the Men's Union Building.

CH Martin Ltd were given the contract for the works and the foundation stone of the George Murray Building was laid by George Murray on 20 May 1937,  with the opening of the building in March 1938.

The Georgian-style building was designed during a time when Woods, Bagot, Jory and Laybourne-Smith were the architects to the University.

Taken from Assessment of Heritage Value.  Union Building Group,  Adelaide University, Victoria Drive, Adelaide, 1999