Teaching and Learning Facilities and Student Services
Dookie Campus has a wide range of purpose-built teaching facilities including lecture theatres, classrooms, laboratories, library, computer centre, agricultural engineering facilities, shade house, glass house and workshops, in addition to the specialist farm buildings, vineyard, orchard, piggery, and dairy which are all used for education and research purposes.
Classrooms
Purpose-built classrooms range in size from those used for small tutorial groups to larger lecture theatres. All classrooms and lecture theatres are air-conditioned, heated and carpeted, and offer a comfortable learning environment. State-of-the-art multimedia facilities are available in the lecture theatres and some classrooms, and traditional audio-visual equipment including tv & videos and overhead projectors are available in all other teaching spaces.
Computer Centre
The Computer Centre at Dookie provides two teaching areas and doubles as a study and research facility for students with 7-day access during semester. Its computing facilities are based on IBM PC compatible microcomputers linked to the Local Area Network (LAN) and internet. All computers are networked to laser printing and scanning facilities. A wide range of software is available for student use including word processing, spreadsheet, database programs and computer aided learning packages.
Farm enterprises
The Dookie Farm Estate is 2,446 hectares and comprised of broadacre (cropping, sheep and beef), bushland reserve, dairy, orchard, vineyard and winery enterprises. Each of these farm units are operated on a fully commercial basis and are also used extensively in the teaching and research programs of the University of Melbourne. Depending on the course undertaken, Dookie students use the farms for extensive practical on-farm experience, and/or for as part of science and research activities. More information about each of the farm enterprises is provided by following the link below:
Hugh Pye Building
One of the newest buildings on campus, Hugh Pye contains staff offices, seminar and tutorial rooms and specialist laboratories for viticulture and wine making courses and related research. The building was named after Hugh Pye, science master and then Principal at Dookie Agricultural College for 22 years from 1895. While Principal, Hugh Pye gained world wide recognition for his pioneering work in wheat breeding and established Dookie as a research centre of national importance. Pye was also a Fellow of the Royal Horticultural Society of England, having been nominated by his friend and colleage, Baron von Mueller.
Museum Building and Lecture Theatre C
Built in 1908 as a chemistry laboratory and classrooms, the building has since undergone substantial refitting at various times serving as a computer room and plant laboratory. It now houses a tiered lecture theatre with state of the art teaching facilties and a meeting room.
Laboratories
There are two laboratory precincts on campus: one contains the chemistry, microbiology/biological laboratory and a soil and plant analytical laboratory; the other, in the Hugh Pye Building, with two specialist laboratories used extensively in viticulture and wine related teaching and research. The laboratories service both research and teaching requirements, and enable soil, water, plant and animal tissue analysis.
Library
The permanent collection of current books and journals is supplemented by access to all the information resources of the University of Melbourne Library. The Dookie Library offers a comfortable environment to research and read with up to date computer and photocopying facilities. Our experienced staff are readily accessible for helping with all library information.
Originally called Swinburne Hall, the building that houses the library was constructed in 1907-1908 for use as the campus dining room, servery and kitchen. It was converted into a library in 1968 (when construction of the current Dining Room began). The building was constructed in the Arts and Crafts-style and features stained glass windows, extensive interior wooden panelling and an Art Nouveaux cast iron fireplace.
Student Services
All students enrolled at Dookie Campus are entitled to the whole range of student support services available at the University of Melbourne. The most important of these services are provided on campus at Dookie on a weekly basis, and are complemented by related and other services provided at Parkville Campus in Melbourne. Further detailed Student Services information can be found at www.services.unimelb.edu.au.
Alumni Associations
All Dookie Graduates are automatically members of both the Dookie Alumni Association and the University of Melbourne Alumni Association. Dookie Alumni have regular reunions, a magazine and a mentoring network to support recent graduates. The University of Melbourne Alumni Association provides a range of services.
Careers and Employment Service
Careers and Employment seeks to maximise the careers and further studies outcomes for current students and recent graduates of the University of Melbourne. Most of its services are web-based including job boards and labour market surveys, and appointments can be made for advice on preparing your cv and interview techniques. In addition, Dookie Campus has an excellent reputation with employers and student and graduate jobs are regularly listed on the employment notice boards around campus and the campus's weekly newsletter.