Bonython Hall

Yes, you will have a «you’re a wizard, Harry» moment in here. Spectacularly old world in its architectural stylings, Bonython Hall is a one-​off in Adelaide and a simply lovely place to visit.
I worked at the Uni a few years back and as part of this I attended graduations and reunions held in the big ol’ Hall on North Terrace. They were pretty magical. The huge pipe organ playing, the deafening sound of hundreds of feet, the proud parents and giddy be-​gowned grads.
The reunions were especially heart warming, with oldies who had studied at the University of Adelaide 50 years back re-​visiting the Hall and re-​enacting their graduation ceremony in the very place it was first held. This sense of continuous history is a great thing for a University and its students… and a far cry from the off-​campus graduation ceremony I had at the Festival Theatre after finishing my degrees at UniSA (not that I’m bagging out my alma mater).
There is a bit of a lean to the floor and it can get quite slippery: my advice to grads, maybe opt for the sensible flats and keep the heels for later! Yep I’m nothing if not practical, peeps.

Andrew pretty much covered its historical significance, but I’d like to point out that *drum roll please* I, and many other Adelaide University kids, had our graduation ceremony here! Additionally, I went to University Senior College and our gradution was held here as well. So this place is close to my heart.
Its exterior is simply beautiful, large and majestic. It fits in with the rest of Adelaide Uni’s campus; it’s got that whole Hogwarts thing going on.
Inside, you will find royal red carpet, wooden furnishings, regal décor and hundreds of seats including a balcony.
When I had my graduation ceremony, a downfall of this prestigious piece of architecture was its wooden floors. Students had to walk to the stage in rows, and the noise of heels and shoes on the floors was deafening — they had to shout over us when presenting parchments.
I’ve had great experiences here at Bonython Hall, and I hope they continue to preserve its form — it’s one of a kind!

Bonython Hall is a gothic revival style building situated on the North Terrace in the Cty of Adelaide.
The building was constructed in the late 1800’s to serve as the «Great Hall» of the University of Adelaide. Both the architecture and function of the hall were modeled on the Tudor Gothic style Great Halls of Oxford and Cambridge. The Hall is these days largely reserved for ceremonial purposes such as graduations and the like, and is of some attraction to newcomers to the city.
In reality, however, Bonython Hall is a bit of a farce. Miniature in comparison with «Great Halls» upon which it is modeled, the the purpose of its construction was so as to prevent the running of highway through the centre of the university.
Its architectural stylings were chosen out of its time to provide a false historicity to the university and in the opinion of many experts, the concrete monstosity that is the napier building is of greater architectural significace as an example of contemporary 1950’s architecture. Not only this, but the entire exterior of the building is a façade in the gothic style, laid upon a structure buit with materials contemporary to the time of its construction, namely brick and concrete.
Despite this I still think its a pretty building. We don’t have much else like it around town and tickets to Europe are quite expensive. So enjoy what you’ve got I say.