RMIT Spiritual Centre
Encyclopedia
The RMIT Spiritual Centre is a building located at the City campus
of the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT University
). The centre provides space for worship to all staff and students of RMIT, regardless of their faith and without showing favour to any one faith, and houses the RMIT Chaplaincy service.
of the Old Melbourne Gaol. It was part of the "North Wing" of the Gaol, and today is one of the few remaining buildings of the complex. It became part of RMIT after the Gaol's decommissioning in 1929. The other remaining buildings include: the main entrance gates, the female hospital, a service wing and a bathhouse (collectively known today, along with the chapel, as "RMIT Building 11"), and the "East Block" (currently utilised as a museum). The "West Block" of the Goal was demolished to make way for an RMIT expansion, circa 1910, and the large circular panopticon
watchtower and male exercise yard were demolished in 1927 for the construction of the Emily McPherson College of Domestic Economy
(now also part of RMIT).
It is registered as a "notable building" by the Melbourne City Council, the Victorian Heritage Register
and the National Trust of Australia
.
RMIT City
RMIT City is the original and flagship campus of the Australian public university and vocational education provider, the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology ....
of the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT University
RMIT University
RMIT University is an Australian public university located in Melbourne, Victoria. It has two branches, referred to as RMIT University in Australia and RMIT International University in Vietnam....
). The centre provides space for worship to all staff and students of RMIT, regardless of their faith and without showing favour to any one faith, and houses the RMIT Chaplaincy service.
History
The building was built in 1860 as the chapelChapel
A chapel is a building used by Christians as a place of fellowship and worship. It may be part of a larger structure or complex, such as a church, college, hospital, palace, prison or funeral home, located on board a military or commercial ship, or it may be an entirely free-standing building,...
of the Old Melbourne Gaol. It was part of the "North Wing" of the Gaol, and today is one of the few remaining buildings of the complex. It became part of RMIT after the Gaol's decommissioning in 1929. The other remaining buildings include: the main entrance gates, the female hospital, a service wing and a bathhouse (collectively known today, along with the chapel, as "RMIT Building 11"), and the "East Block" (currently utilised as a museum). The "West Block" of the Goal was demolished to make way for an RMIT expansion, circa 1910, and the large circular panopticon
Panopticon
The Panopticon is a type of building designed by English philosopher and social theorist Jeremy Bentham in the late eighteenth century. The concept of the design is to allow an observer to observe all inmates of an institution without them being able to tell whether or not they are being watched...
watchtower and male exercise yard were demolished in 1927 for the construction of the Emily McPherson College of Domestic Economy
Emily McPherson College of Domestic Economy
The Emily McPherson College of Domestic Economy was an Australian domestic science college for women, in Melbourne, Victoria.It was officially opened on 27 April 1927 by Her Royal Highness Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, the Duchess of York, and later Queen Consort....
(now also part of RMIT).
It is registered as a "notable building" by the Melbourne City Council, the Victorian Heritage Register
Victorian Heritage Register
The Victorian Heritage Register lists places of cultural heritage significance to the State of Victoria, Australia. It has statutory weight under the Heritage Act 1995 which establishes Heritage Victoria as the permit authority...
and the National Trust of Australia
National Trust of Australia
The Australian Council of National Trusts is the peak body for community-based, non-government organisations committed to promoting and conserving Australia's indigenous, natural and historic heritage....
.
External links
See also
- Old Melbourne Gaol, to which the chapel was a former part of
- RMIT CityRMIT CityRMIT City is the original and flagship campus of the Australian public university and vocational education provider, the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology ....
, the campus of RMIT the Spiritual Centre is located