Our Residence
Edward’s Hall, affectionately known by its residents as "Teds", is home to 383 residents each year, with 298 of these residents occupying the catered main-hall rooms and 85 residing in self catered houses; situated directly opposite the main residence houses, or put simply the other side of Teds’ car park. Teds is the eldest college at the University of Newcastle, and the first residence to be built at UON shortly after its separation from UNSW to become autonomous.
Teds’ main hall was officially opened in 1973 as per official documents. However, its first year is widely regarded as 1972 amongst University students.
TEDS Residents are automatically made members of an age-old student body known as the Resident Member's Association (RMA). The RMA is run by it’s Committee, consisting of the people’s representatives decided by majority vote in an election: these residents form the special Resident Member’s Association Committee (RMAC).
Our History
Edward’s Hall was named in honour of Sir George Alfred Edwards, MBE, BA, BSc [Oxford], Hon.DSc
Images published courtesy of Cultural Collections, at the University of Newcastle Library.
Their public Flickr.
Dr. George Alfred Edwards
George Edwards made a brief incursion into academic life as a lecturer at Kings College London before he decided to make his career as a scientist in industry. This combination of academic and administrative gifts led to his being sent to Australia as local Managing Director Courtaulds' [Australia] Limited when his form decided to establish a manufacturing plant at Tomago. After a brilliant University career, George Edwards made a brief incursion into academic life as a Lecturer at Kings' College, London before he decided to make his career as a scientist in industry. This combination of academic and administrative gifts led to his being sent to Australia as local Managing Director when his firm decided to extend its activities in this country.
However, it was in recognition of his great contributions to Newcastle University that this Hall was named in his honour. Originally a member of the Newcastle University Advisory Committee, he was appointed by the University of New South Wales to our first College Council and contributed much to its working in preparing the way for independence. He succeeded Lyon McLarty as Chairman of the Buildings Committee and when independence came he was elected the first Chairman of the newly independent University Council.
To students he was ever approachable as Council representative on the Union Board of Management. A nominated member of the University's first permanent Council, his colleagues showed their appreciation of his creative work for the University by unanimously electing him as its first Deputy Chancellor, a position he held from 1966 until his untimely death in 1973 after a long illness.
Sir Roden Cutler visits campus of the University of Newcastle, NSW, Australia.
This image was scanned from a photograph in the University's historical photographic collection held by Cultural Collections at the University of Newcastle, NSW, Australia.
Cutler House
Sir Roden Cutler (24 May 1916 - 21 February 2002) was an Australian Diplomat, the longest serving Governor of New South Wales and a recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry "in the face of the enemy" that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth armed forces.
Born 24 May 1916, Arthur Roden Cutler grew up in the Sydney Harbour suburb of Manly where he attached the Manly Village Public School.
At the age of 15 he enrolled at Sydney Boys High School. After school, he worked for the Texas Company Australasia, later to become Texaco.
He studied economics during the night at the University of Sydney, joining the Sydney University Regiment in 1936.
In 1941, Cutler served with the 2/5th in the Syria-Lebanon Campaign.
During the period between 19 June and 6 July, in the Merdjayoun-Damour area of Syria, and as part of the Battle of Merdjayoun, Lieutenant Cutler's exploits included repairing a telephone line under heavy fire, repulsing enemy tank attacks, setting up an outpost to bring fire to a road used by the enemy and, with 25-pound field gun, demolishing a post threatening the Australian advance. Later, during the Battle of Damour, he was seriously wounded and when rescued 26 hours later his leg had to be amputated.
Cutler received the Victoria Cross for his actions and was medically discharged in 1942.
The Chancellor of the University of Newcastle, Australia congratulates Sir Macfarlane Burnett at the opening of the Biological Sciences Building
This image was scanned from a photograph in the University's historical photographic collection held by Cultural Collections at the University of Newcastle, NSW, Australia.
Burnet House
Sir Frank Macfarlane Burnet (3 September 1899 - 31 August 1985), was an Australian virologist best known for his contributions to immunology.
He won the Nobel Prize for predicting acquired immune tolerance and was best known for developing the theory of clonal selection.
Burnet received his Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Melbourne in 1924, and his PhD from the University of London in 1928.
He went on to conduct pioneering research in microbiology and immunology at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, and served as director of the Institute from 1944 to 1965.
From 1965 until his retirement in 1978, Burnet worked at the University of Melbourne. Throughout his career he played an active role in the development of public policy for the medical sciences in Australia and was a founding member of the Australian Academy of Science (AAS), and served as its president from 1965 to 1969.
Burnet was the most highly decorated and honoured scientist to have worked in Australia. For his contributions to Australian science, he made the first Australian of the year in 1960, and in 1978 a Knight of the Order of Australia.
He was recognised internationally for his achievements: in addition to the Nobel, he received the Lasker Award and the Royal and Copley Medal from the Royal Society, honorary doctorates, and distinguished service honours from the Commonwealth of Nations and Japan.