Kathleen Lumley College

Kathleen Lumley College is an institution with considerable history, and has produced many students of note in the South Australian community and beyond. Our former students have gone on to considerable achievement, and in all walks of life. KLC graduates have become published authors, university teachers and people who have found employment in, or affiliation with, a variety of companies and governments. Although small in student number, KLC’s residents come from a very wide range of nationalities, allowing us to boast of having one of the most cosmopolitan communities in Adelaide. College life is what its members make it, so they are encouraged to participate strongly and consistently in activities generated by the College’s Residents’ Association.

Kathleen Lumley College was established by formal Resolution of the Council of The University of Adelaide on 8 November 1965 as a non-demoninational residential college for postgraduate students. The prime movers in the founding of Kathleen Lumley College in the 1960s were the then Chancellor of the University of Adelaide Sir Kenneth Wills, Vice-Chancellor Sir Henry Basten, the President of the PGSA Colin Philips and the Chancellor’s sister, Mrs Kathleen Lumley. A very generous benefaction from Kathleen Lumley together with matching grants both from the State and Commonwealth Governments and a gift of land from The University of Adelaide facilitated the initial development of the College’s fabric. The College’s initial property holdings between Finniss Street and Mackinnon Parade, North Adelaide consisted of several 19th Century cottages on nine full size blocks. Three of the cottages were retained for student accommodation (for 12 students) and the remainder were demolished to make way for a new accommodation block (for 44 students), common room and dining facilities.