125 stories for 125 years

The Manning building

Nigel Manning was dean of the college from 1963 to 1978. During this time he took the college from an apprenticeship to a science based course recognised worldwide. He worked tirelessly for the college and was a dedicated teacher, builder, patron of the arts and visionary, whose legacy was the modern college. In the late 1960s, he oversaw the construction of a third building on campus to house research laboratories and conducted fundraising for its fit out and later renovations. The building was named after him to honour these efforts and his great encouragement of research.

The building was officially opened in 1971 by the Premier of Victoria, Henry Bolte, at a ceremony held at the college. The proceedings were interrupted when part of the stage collapsed under Lady Bolte and Sir Willis Connolly, causing them to fall a short distance to the ground. However, no injuries were sustained.

With consistently high enrolment numbers and an expanding research program, the new building gave the college much-needed extra teaching and research labs and also included a large student common room. The building construction and running costs were funded by the Federal and Victorian Governments, the college itself and the pharmaceutical community through an appeal.

The C.L. Butchers Memorial Library was opened on the ground floor of the building in 1972. As Butchers had been a generous donor to the library and an enormous support to both the students and staff of the college, it was decided that the memorial funds raised after his death would be directed to the establishment and continuation of the library.

The Higuchi Sculpture adorns the eastern wall of the Manning building. The sculpture was designed and fashioned by Norma Redpath, an Australian artist. The disc was initially meant to represent 'undergraduateship' but should now be considered to represent the pre-clinical aspects of pharmacy education. Takeru Higuchi unveiled the sculpture in 1972 to coincide with the First Commonwealth Pharmaceutical Association Conference held in Melbourne.

In 2001 the building underwent renovations to cater for the needs of the growing college. Teaching, laboratory and office areas were upgraded. The library was extended and a new computer laboratory was installed. In 2007, the building will be upgraded and the library expanded.