The 1976 Tudorian includes a detailed report from Building Appeal Chairman Dr H.E.C. Taylor, a Tudor House parent and later the 1979 Prize Day Guest Speaker, on a major capital project launched 50 years ago.
In his report, Dr Taylor noted:
“It has been obvious for some time that the gym was in need of major renovation. This wooden building with a corrugated iron roof was constructed during the 1923–24 Christmas holidays. Built initially as a dormitory, it has served a variety of purposes over the years. In this, its final year of service, it has acted as a general assembly point for meal and Chapel parades, provided essential space for wet-weather activities, housed the dayroom lockers for Inman and Medley boys and contained the day lavatory block, storage rooms for sports equipment and teaching aids, as well as a flat for single masters. It has done its job well.”
Taylor went on to write:
“At the time of writing this report, 343 donors have pledged a total of $192,631 – a truly remarkable result.”
Among those donors was Old Tudorian and then Prime Minister, Malcolm Fraser. Dr Taylor thanked the friends and supporters of the School for “keeping alive the legendary spirit of Tudor House”.
Construction of the buildings that became known as the E.L. Dixon Library and the R.B. Darke Gymnasium was completed in late 1977. For nearly 50 years, generations of Tudorians have benefited from the generosity of those who supported this campaign and their legacy continues to shape the Tudor House experience today.
