Alumni and friends
Reconnect with old friends, meet current residents and continue contributing to the communities that shaped your university experience.
Reconnect. Your connections can last lifetime
Whether you lived in a college or apartment, you are part of a community that spans generations. Keep in touch, discover upcoming events, share your memories and explore ways to support current residents.
If you're a proud UNSW alumnus and former resident of one of our buildings, this is your chance to reconnect with old friends and establish new connections. Our mission is to nurture lasting ties between past and present students, fostering a sense of community spirit.
Alumni Stories
Baxterians Reunite after 60 Years
Six Decades of Memories
The Philip Baxter College 60th Anniversary Reunion was a memorable celebration, bringing together alumni, current residents and members of the wider Baxter community to honour six decades of friendships, memories and shared experiences.
Held on 19 September 2026, the reunion welcomed generations of Baxterians, from the College's earliest residents in the 1960s to those calling Baxter home today. The afternoon was filled with laughter, nostalgia and heartfelt reunions as old friends reconnected, shared stories and reflected on their journeys since university.
Guests enjoyed two panel discussions, Early Days at Baxter and Baxter Then & Now, offering a unique perspective on how College life has evolved across generations.
The Early Days at Baxter panel featured former Social Committee members from the 1960s. The group reflected on their experiences as student leaders, sharing stories of College traditions, social activities and the friendships that shaped their time at Baxter.
The Baxter Then & Now panel brought together former and current College president, reflecting on the changing student experience, leadership opportunities and the traditions that continue to connect generations of Baxterians.
The celebrations also included interactive activities and guided tours of Philip Baxter College and Goldstein Dining Hall, giving alumni the opportunity to revisit familiar spaces and see how College life has changed over the years.
More than just a reunion, the afternoon was a reminder of the lasting impact residential College life can have, with friendships and connections extending well beyond university.
Thank you to everyone who joined us in celebrating this special milestone.
Here's to 60 years of Baxter memories and the generations of Baxterians still to come!
10 Years with Colombo House
Alumni Reunion Recap
The Colombo House 10-Year Birthday and Alumni Reunion was a memorable celebration, bringing together a close-knit group of alumni to honour a decade of memories.
Under a cosy marquee in our courtyard, alumni from 2014 to 2023 gathered for a night filled with laughter and connection. The atmosphere was warm and inviting as old friends shared stories and reflected on their journeys since university.
Dean of Colombo House, Michael Patoka, delivered a heartfelt speech that resonated with everyone present. “What a long way we’ve come in 10 years and how lucky we all are that you embraced these walls as your home and brought your ideas, contributions, and values to enhance this college” he remarked, emphasising the significance of Colombo House as one of our newest buildings and its lasting impact on our community.
Proceeds from the evening went towards a bursary for future residents, ensuring the spirit of Colombo House lives on.
Thank you to all who joined us in celebrating this milestone—here’s to the memories we’ve created and the community we hold dear!
College comes with a massive support system and one of the biggest opportunities is the connections you make. We've had alumni come back and tell us that the friends they made here have stayed in their lives for 30 years. That sounds crazy now, but I guess we’ll see!
Zeyad Ali
Basser College
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Watch Kelsie's story here.
John Holden (Basser 1959)
John Holden presents his cheque to Head of the Kensington Colleges Isabelle Creagh watched by Chris Lewis and UNSW Vice President of Advancement Jennie Lang.
In November 2015, at a small ceremony attended by Basser College students, staff and UNSW personnel, Mr John Holden (Basser 1959) and his son Angus Holden presented a cheque for $600,000 to Basser College.
We are thrilled to announce this fantastic gift, the largest ever given to any of the colleges! This generous endowment will create two lifelong residential scholarships at Basser College. They are intended fo students from rural and remote Australia. We couldn’t be more excited for the opportunities this will provide!
John hails from Grafton and has known Basser since he was the first House President of Basser College in 1959. He attended the college opening, which was officiated by the Governor-General, alongside Adolf Basser. After UNSW, he founded his own manufacturing business, Jord Engineering, which his family still owns and runs.
John explained his reason for giving at the ceremony: “There were 30 people in my final class at school. Many would have succeeded at Sydney or Brisbane universities, but their families couldn’t afford the accommodation fees. People are more affluent nowadays, but many in Australia still struggle. I just felt that I might be able to make a bit of a difference.”
When presented with the cheque, Isabelle Creagh expressed her gratitude, “We’re very grateful to John and his family for their support,” she said. “These scholarships will have a major impact on the lives of many future generations of rural students who otherwise would not be able to attend UNSW and the colleges.”
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Jimmy Koh, one of our earliest Singaporean students, donated $100,000 to Basser College, to support student activity and students in financial hardship.
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Paul Clitheroe and Dr. Chris Barnes from Baxter College have created an opportunity for rural students. They established the generous $100,000 Barnes Clitheroe Baxter Rural Residential Scholarship to support a deserving student from the bush.
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Brendan Welsh and Debbie McLaughlin support residential scholarships for Indigenous students through the ITNewcom Foundation.
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Brendan Welsh and Debbie McLaughlin support residential scholarships for Indigenous students through the ITNewcom Foundation.
Contribute photos, stories or memorabilia to help preserve college history. Have a photo memory of your time in College? Drop us an email at accommodation@unsw.edu.au and send us a copy for us to add to our archives of memories.
Discover upcoming UNSW Accommodation alumni events, reunions and opportunities to reconnect with your residential community. Revisit shared memories, celebrate College milestones and stay connected with fellow alumni and current residents.
Explore upcoming events and open invitations, and register to join us as we continue building connections across generations of UNSW Alumni community.
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