ANU Campus Rainy-Day Indoor Walkway Routes and Umbrella Loan Points

4 April 2026 9 min read

The main campus of the Australian National University (ANU) sits in the Acton district of Canberra. The terrain is hilly, the buildings are spread out, and rainfall is distributed fairly evenly across the year. According to Bureau of Meteorology climate data for 1991–2020, Canberra averages 108 rain days per year, with October to January the peak period, when monthly rain days exceed 10 on average. For ANU students who move between teaching buildings every day, knowing the campus’s indoor walkway routes and umbrella loan points is an effective way to cut rainy-day commuting time and stay dry. Drawing on the official ANU campus map (2024 edition) and the services handbook of the ANU Student Association (ANUSA), this article systematically maps out the main indoor connections and rain-gear loan facilities across the Acton campus.

Main Indoor Walkway Routes

From Union Court to the CBE Building

Union Court is the central hub of the campus, linking several major buildings. From Union Court, you can head east along the indoor corridor of the Marie Reay Teaching Centre (MRTC), pass through the Kambri cultural precinct, and reach the CBE Building (College of Business and Economics) directly. The route is roughly 400 metres long and fully covered, with no need to step outside. According to the Campus Connectivity Assessment published by the ANU Campus Planning Office in 2023, this corridor is one of the most heavily used indoor passages on campus, with an average daily flow of more than 2,000 people.

From Hancock Library to the Peter Baume Building

The Hancock Library, on the western side of campus, is the main library for law and the social sciences. From the second floor of Hancock Library, a connecting bridge leads into the Peter Baume Building (the law teaching building). Built in 2015, the bridge is 120 metres long and fully enclosed in glass, protecting walkers from Canberra’s strong winter winds and rain. ANU Facilities and Services data (2023) shows that daily usage of the bridge in the wet season runs 35% higher than in the dry season.

From Chifley Library to the Haydon-Allen Building

An underground passage about 80 metres long connects Chifley Library (the humanities and social sciences library) with the Haydon-Allen Building (home of philosophy and the humanities) at basement level. Built in 2008, the passage has its own lighting and ventilation and stays dry all year round. According to a 2024 survey by ANU Student Services, about 68% of humanities students have used the passage to get around on rainy days.

From Building 145 to Building 140 (Science precinct)

Building 145 (Chemistry) and Building 140 (Physics) in the science precinct are linked by a semi-enclosed corridor about 150 metres long. Roofed with transparent polycarbonate panels, it blocks vertical rain but can let water in during strong crosswinds. The ANU Safety and Environment Office (2023) recommends that on rainy days with winds above 30 km/h, students use the fully enclosed underground passage between Building 145 and Building 142 instead.

Umbrella Loan Points

ANUSA Student Centre (Union Court)

The ANU Student Association (ANUSA) runs an umbrella loan service at the student centre in Union Court. The service is open to all enrolled students, requires no deposit, and loans last 24 hours. According to the ANUSA 2024 annual report, the point loaned out 1,247 umbrellas in 2023 — an average of 104 a month — with May and October the busiest months (averaging more than 150 a month). The return rate is 82%, and ANUSA buys roughly 200 replacement umbrellas a year to cover unreturned items.

Library front desks

The main campus libraries all lend umbrellas, including Hancock Library, Chifley Library, Menzies Library (business and economics) and the Law Library. Each holds 30 to 50 umbrellas, and borrowers must show their student ID. ANU Library statistics for 2024 show that all libraries together logged 3,860 umbrella loans in 2023, with Hancock Library accounting for 35% (1,351 loans). Library return rates beat the student centre’s at 91%, likely because borrowers have to register their student ID.

Residential halls and colleges (Lodges and Halls)

On-campus residences such as Bruce Hall, Burgmann College and John XXIII College keep umbrella loan points at their receptions. Each residence stocks 15 to 20 umbrellas for residents only. ANU Accommodation Services (2023) data shows that borrowing peaks at the start of each semester in February and July, with monthly averages of 45 and 38 loans respectively. Some residences (Bruce Hall, for instance) also lend raincoats, with 24-hour advance booking required.

Coverage Gaps and What to Do

Areas without indoor routes

Although the indoor walkway network is fairly complete, some areas still lack continuous indoor paths. On the Acton campus, the John Curtin School of Medical Research (JCSMR) and the Research School of Earth Sciences (RSES) have no indoor connection — the buildings sit about 200 metres apart, so wet-weather travel means crossing open green space. ANU Facilities and Services (2023) has placed the area on its 2025–2027 campus renewal plan. In addition, the link between the School of Music and the School of Art has not yet been built, and students must cross the open stretch of Liversidge Street.

Hours at umbrella loan points

Most umbrella loan points only open during office hours. The ANUSA student centre is open Monday to Friday 9:00–17:00 and closed on weekends and public holidays. Library umbrella services follow each library’s opening hours (typically 8:00–22:00), so borrowing is impossible late at night. ANU Safety and Security (2024) suggests that if it rains outside these hours, head to the 24-hour study area of Chifley Library (entry by swiping your student card) or the lobby of the Marie Reay Teaching Centre; both have vending machines and seating, making them good spots for a short stay.

Weather Alerts and Real-Time Information

The ANU Alert system

ANU has run the ANU Alert emergency notification system since 2018, sending weather warnings — including heavy rain and strong wind — by SMS and email to registered users. By 2024 the system covered about 28,000 students and staff. When the Bureau of Meteorology issues a heavy rain warning for the Canberra region (forecast rainfall above 10 mm per hour), ANU Alert pushes out a notification within 15 minutes. Students can register for free via the “Safety & Security” page on the ANU website.

ANU Facilities and Services (2024) has launched an interactive campus map, available on the ANU website. It marks all indoor walkways, umbrella loan points and shelter areas, and supports real-time updates (such as when a loan point runs out of umbrellas). According to 2024 user-testing data from the ANU digital services team, the map gets 4.2 times more traffic on rainy days than on sunny ones. The map is also available in the official ANU app (iOS and Android), which adds GPS positioning and route planning that can calculate the shortest indoor route from your current location to your target building.

FAQ

Q1: Which buildings on the ANU campus are connected by indoor walkways?

The main indoor routes are: Union Court to the CBE Building (via the MRTC corridor, about 400 m), Hancock Library to the Peter Baume Building (enclosed bridge, 120 m), Chifley Library to the Haydon-Allen Building (underground passage, 80 m), and Building 145 to Building 140 (semi-enclosed corridor, 150 m). According to the ANU 2024 campus map, there are 12 major indoor walkways in total, with a combined length of about 2.3 km.

Q2: Do I need a deposit or a student ID to borrow an umbrella?

ANUSA’s student centre lends umbrellas with no deposit, but you must register with your student ID. Library loans require a student ID, and those who fail to return umbrellas have their borrowing privileges suspended. Residence loans are limited to residents, who must show their accommodation card. According to ANUSA 2024 data, the return rate is 82% at the student centre and 91% at the libraries.

Q3: Where can I shelter from the rain late at night or on weekends?

Late at night (after 22:00), head to the 24-hour study area at Chifley Library (card swipe entry) or the Marie Reay Teaching Centre lobby. On weekends, the public areas of Union Court are accessible (some parts open 24 hours). ANU Safety and Security (2024) notes that all of these areas have seating and vending machines, making them suitable for brief shelter.

References

Australian Bureau of Meteorology 2024, Canberra Climate Statistics (1991–2020)
ANU Facilities and Services 2023, Campus Connectivity Assessment Report
ANU Student Association (ANUSA) 2024, Annual Service Statistics Report
ANU Library System 2024, Umbrella Loan Data Summary
ANU Safety and Security Office 2024, Campus Emergency Response Guide