In the midst of restoration work in preparation for the University’s centenary celebrations, the roof timbers of Wilson Hall caught fire on a hot, gusty mid-summer afternoon on 25 January 1952. A rebuilding appeal raised £96,733 but the Government made no contribution. The initial decision was to build a replica but cost and a prevailing enthusiasm for modernity overwhelmed those who felt a degree might lack substance were it not conferred in a Gothic-revival style structure. The new Wilson Hall opened in 1956.
Wilson Hall [II] (1956-), [UMA-PL-000000014]. University of Melbourne Archives, accessed 16/03/2025, https://archives.library.unimelb.edu.au/nodes/view/505129