University of the Third Age

Logo of University of the Third Age, Hobart

The University of the Third Age (U3A) movement began in France in 1973 and soon spread worldwide. In 1989 Professor Colin Wendell-Smith was asked to convene a group which initiated the formation of U3A in Hobart, and in 1990 the first programme was launched at Jane Franklin Hall. In 1992 U3A moved to Springvale Hostel, New Town. Groups were subsequently established at Clarence and Kingston; membership of these three U3A groups now totals over one thousand.

Membership is by a small annual fee, for which members attend as many courses as they wish, including language and drama classes and lectures on art, music, science, social science and the humanities. There is also a Summer Programme of Talks. All lecturers act in a volunteer capacity.

Further reading: J Louden (ed), Up and running, [Hobart, 2000].

Leone Scrivener