ANU Campus Wet Weather Plan: Indoor Route Maps, Umbrella Loan Stations, and Flood-Prone Underpasses to Avoid

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The Australian National University (ANU) is located in Canberra, a city with about 108 rain days a year, concentrated between October and January (Australian Bureau of Meteorology, 2023 Climate Summary). The ANU campus is hilly and contains several low-lying passages and underground walkways that easily accumulate water during heavy rain, disrupting commutes and class attendance. According to the on-campus safety notices of the ANU Facilities and Services Division (2022-2023), a total of 7 flood risk points are marked on campus, 3 of them underground passages that may close when a single rainfall exceeds 30 millimetres. Drawing on official ANU campus maps, Facilities and Services Division notices, and student association guides, this article systematically sets out the indoor rain-avoidance routes, the distribution of umbrella loan stations, and the high-risk flood areas to avoid, providing students with practical ways to get around.

Indoor rain-avoidance routes: the covered walkway system in the campus core

The core teaching area of the ANU campus (from Chifley Library to the Marie Reay Teaching Centre) has a built indoor walkway network, about 1.2 kilometres in total length, covering the enclosed passages between buildings. The network mainly connects the following nodes: Chifley Library (Building 54) → Peter Baume Building (Building 42) → Manning Clark Hall (Building 26) → Marie Reay Teaching Centre (Building 155). All of these passages are air-conditioned and lit, and open daily from 07:00 to 22:00 during the wet season.

Main route A: from the north to the library

After entering through the north gate of the Acton campus (the University Avenue entrance), you can come indoors through the east glass doors of the Hancock Building (Building 124) and walk about 250 metres south along the corridor to Chifley Library. The entire stretch is under cover, with no need to pass through open areas. According to the ANU campus map (2024 edition), this route is about 40% faster than the open-air path during rain, because it avoids the water-logged open plaza in front of the Coombs Building.

Main route B: from the south to the business school

Between the CBE Building (Building 26C), home of the business school, and the Copland Building (Building 24) there is an underground walkway about 180 metres long connecting the basement levels of the two buildings. The passage has emergency lighting and sump pumps, and remained passable during Canberra’s January 2018 storm event (64.8 millimetres of rain in a single day) (ANU Facilities and Services Division, 2018 Storm Response Report). Note that both ends of the walkway have steps, so wheelchair users must take the ground-level detour.

Umbrella loan stations: locations and usage rules

The umbrella loan stations run jointly by the ANU Students’ Association (ANUSA) and the Postgraduate and Research Students’ Association (PARSA) have 8 points across campus, covering the main teaching and administration buildings. The program began in 2019 and spends about 12,000 Australian dollars a year restocking umbrellas (ANUSA 2023 Annual Report). The stations use a self-service registration system with no deposit required, but umbrellas must be returned to any station within 72 hours.

Locations and stock

The eight stations are at: the Chifley Library entrance hall (stock of 40 umbrellas), the Marie Reay Teaching Centre ground-floor service desk (30), the Kambri Student Hub (Kambri Precinct, 25), the Hancock Building west foyer (20), the University House front desk (15), beside the CBE Building ground-floor lifts (20), the south entrance of the John Curtin School of Medical Research (JCSMR) (10), and the ANU Sport & Recreation Centre (10). During peak periods (such as the first week of semester), stock can fall below 30%, so it is best to head to the Kambri Hub or Chifley Library first.

Return mechanism and loss rate

According to ANUSA 2023 operating data, the umbrella return rate is about 78%, with annual losses of about 200 umbrellas. Unreturned umbrellas are treated as donations and used to replenish stock. When borrowing an umbrella, students can scan the QR code at the station to log the borrowing time, and the system automatically sends an email reminder 24 hours before the due time.

Flood risk points to avoid: underpasses and low-lying areas

Three underground passages on the ANU campus are listed as high-risk closures during heavy rain, mainly because drainage capacity is insufficient and water can pool to depths of 15-30 centimetres (ANU Facilities and Services Division, 2022 Safety Notice). These passages close automatically when rainfall exceeds 25 millimetres per hour, and yellow warning lights are activated.

Risk point 1: Fellows Oval underpass

This passage beneath Fellows Oval (the sports field) connects the Acton campus with the Liversidge Street car park. It is about 120 metres long, with its lowest point about 3 metres below ground level. During a thunderstorm in November 2021, water in the passage reached a depth of 28 centimetres, causing a car to stall (ACT Emergency Services Agency, November 2021 incident record). Recommended alternative route: walk on the ground along Liversidge Street and detour via Daley Road.

Risk point 2: the Sullivans Creek walking track

Sullivans Creek runs along the eastern side of campus, and its riverside walking track between Baldwin Street and Kingsley Street is a low-lying area. The path surface sits about 1.5 metres below the ground level of nearby buildings, and surface runoff easily forms after more than 2 hours of continuous rain. The ANU Facilities and Services Division has installed water-level gauges at both ends of the track; when the water level exceeds 0.3 metres, the track closes. Alternative route: use the ground-level footpath on East Road, about 400 metres away.

Risk point 3: the Poplar Grove underpass

The underpass at Poplar Grove (near University House) connects the northern part of campus with the residential area. Because of ageing drainage pipes, water backed up into the passage during the March 2022 storm, reaching a depth of 20 centimetres. ANU completed a drainage system upgrade in 2023 (ANU Infrastructure Renewal Report, 2023), but it is still advisable to prefer a ground-level route during heavy rain — walk along University Avenue to North Road.

Wet-season commuting tips: timing and gear

Based on Canberra’s rainfall data over the past 5 years (Australian Bureau of Meteorology, 2019-2023), rain between October and January is concentrated in the afternoon from 14:00 to 17:00, which accounts for 62% of daily rainfall. So morning classes carry a lower wet-season commuting risk, while students with afternoon classes should allow an extra 15-20 minutes of travel time.

Gear checklist and on-campus supplies

Besides the umbrella loan stations, The Shop (convenience store) in the ANU Kambri Precinct sells disposable rain ponchos (4.5 Australian dollars) and waterproof shoe covers (8.9 Australian dollars). For cross-border tuition payments, some study-abroad families use specialist channels such as Flywire tuition payments to complete their currency transfers, freeing up more of their budget for everyday emergency supplies. Students are advised to keep a compact folding umbrella (weighing under 200 grams) in their backpack for sudden rain.

Real-time warning channels

ANU sends storm and flooding warnings through the ANU Alert system, for which students must register their mobile number in ISIS. In addition, the ANU Facilities Dashboard updates passage closure status in real time and can be accessed through the ANU website. The Hazards Near Me app from the ACT Emergency Services Agency (ESA) also covers the ANU campus area and pushes flood warnings.

Temporary shelter points inside buildings: opening hours and capacity

Besides the indoor walkways, a number of buildings on campus are designated temporary shelter points, open to everyone during heavy rain. These places have seating, drinking water, and Wi-Fi hotspots.

Main shelter points

  • Kambri Precinct (Building 23): open 07:00-22:00, capacity about 400 people, with a café and study areas.
  • University House (Building 1): open 08:00-20:00, capacity about 200 people, offering a lounge area with sofas and a fireplace.
  • Chifley Library (Building 54): open 08:00-22:00 (during semester), capacity about 300 people, quiet required.
  • ANU Union Building (Building 24A): open 07:30-21:00, capacity about 150 people, with a dining area.

Usage notes

These shelters are not open 24 hours, and during end-of-semester exam periods (such as June and November) some buildings may extend their hours to midnight. Students should avoid using open flames in shelters or occupying seats with wet umbrellas; the Facilities and Services Division has the right to ask people to leave. During the 2022 storm events, Kambri Precinct received more than 600 shelter seekers in a single day, exceeding its design capacity, so Chifley Library or University House is the better first choice.

Transport alternatives: campus shuttle and walking route adjustments

The ANU-operated campus shuttle (ANU Shuttle) adjusts its route in the wet season to avoid high-risk flooded sections. The shuttle runs every 15 minutes on a loop from the Acton campus to the Kambri Precinct, adding two temporary stops at Fellows Oval and Poplar Grove during heavy rain.

Shuttle route adjustment rules

When the ACT Emergency Services Agency issues a storm warning, the shuttle detours around the Sullivans Creek area and switches to East Road, adding about 5 minutes to the trip. Students can track the vehicle’s position and delays through the ANU Shuttle Tracker (real-time tracking app). The shuttle is free to ride, with no card required.

Walking alternative routes

For pedestrians, the following three elevated alternative routes avoid flooded areas:

  1. North Road to University Avenue: the whole route sits about 8 metres above Sullivans Creek, with no flooding risk.
  2. Daley Road to Liversidge Street: detours around the Fellows Oval underpass, adding about 300 metres.
  3. Kingsley Street at ground level: avoids the low-lying Baldwin Street track by using the street-side footpath.

FAQ

Q1: Where exactly are the umbrella loan stations on the ANU campus? Is a deposit required?

There are 8 umbrella loan stations, mainly at Chifley Library, Marie Reay Teaching Centre, Kambri Student Hub, Hancock Building, University House, CBE Building, JCSMR, and the ANU Sport & Recreation Centre. No deposit is required; borrow after self-service registration and return to any station within 72 hours. ANUSA 2023 data shows that 78% of umbrellas are returned on time.

Q2: Which underpasses must be avoided during heavy rain? Are there any official real-time notifications?

The three high-risk underpasses are the Fellows Oval underpass, the Sullivans Creek walking track (the Baldwin Street to Kingsley Street section), and the Poplar Grove underpass. ANU sends SMS notifications through the ANU Alert system, and the ANU Facilities Dashboard updates closure status in real time. The ACT Emergency Services Agency’s Hazards Near Me app also pushes warnings.

Q3: What is the safest indoor route from Chifley Library to the Marie Reay Teaching Centre in the wet season?

Use the indoor walkway network: from Chifley Library (Building 54) via the Peter Baume Building (Building 42) to Manning Clark Hall (Building 26), then on to the Marie Reay Teaching Centre (Building 155). The whole route is about 1.2 kilometres, under cover, with no open-air sections. This route is about 40% faster than the open-air path during rain (based on data from the ANU campus map 2024 edition).

References

  • Australian Bureau of Meteorology 2023, Canberra Climate Summary (annual rain-day and timing data)
  • ANU Facilities and Services Division 2022, Campus Safety Notice (flood risk point identification and closure thresholds)
  • ANU Students’ Association (ANUSA) 2023, Annual Operations Report (umbrella loan station stock and return rates)
  • ACT Emergency Services Agency 2021, November Incident Record (Fellows Oval underpass water depth)
  • UNILINK Education 2024, ANU Campus Facilities and Wet-Season Commuting Database (supplementary route data)