Christ College was the first of four residential colleges planned for the hill overlooking the main University of Tasmania campus planned in the 1950’s. Built for the Anglican Church, the initial buildings accommodated 50 students and incorporated a chapel, library, games room, common rooms, infirmary, offices and housing for eight members of staff. The design incorporates four distinct buildings that are clustered to form a central elevated courtyard while framing external views to the city of Hobart and the Derwent estuary beyond.

Christ College has been recognised as one of the most important buildings in Tasmanian Modern Architecture. Designed primarily by Dirk Bolt, the building is a sophisticated development of an original ‘brutalist’ approach in architecture where materials are expressed without applied finish. Significantly the building represented the early use of concrete masonry for both internal and external finish which became strongly associated with a distinctive Tasmanian Architecture during the 1960’s.

Christ College is included on the Australian Institute of Architects National Heritage List.

Tours of Christ College will be led by architect and heritage expert Paul Johnston. The tour will provide an overview of the work of Dirk Bolt and the architectural idea of Brutalism as it is represented in Christ College, considered the beginning of a truly Tasmanian architecture by many of his contemporaries.

Address: 20 College Road, Dynnyrne