ANU Hidden Gems – Have you seen the Mongolian Ger?

Ok so this one's not so much of a hidden gem on campus as much as a beautiful gem we thought we'd share.

The Ger is once again proudly sitting on the corner outside the Coombs building and across from the Chancelry, on East Road. But why?

The Ger was gifted to ANU in March 2016 by the Mongolian Ambassador to Australia Mr Chuluunhuu Batlai on behalf of Mongolia's President Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj. It was made in part to support the ANU College of Asia and the Pacific Mongolia Institute, founded in 2013, to promote the study of Mongolia.

ANU proudly accepted what is known to be the first traditional Ger to be given to an Australian university at a special ceremony.

The Ger's history dates back a decade when Professor Li Narangoa suggested ANU be given one to beautify the campus. Planning on the structure's production began in 2012 but due to a variety of reasons it couldn't be presented until last year.

The intricate detailing on the Ger's door and inside the structure is nothing short of exquisite and can be seen in the photo gallery, above. The never-ending pattern on the outside of the tent is a symbol of good luck and inside the Ger within the carving in the centre of the Ger there are eight horses, symbols of luck and wealth in Mongolian culture.

The Ger was also presented to ANU with its own furniture - a table, side board and some chairs - that can be used when it is on display for events.

When it was first constructed on campus, experts from the Mongolian Embassy assisted ANU staff by showing them how to piece the structure together in the correct format. Not a single nail or screw is used to keep it standing but instead it is kept together by ropes and flexible cow sinew.

The Ger has been affectionately accepted by the ANU student body who have created a website for it, called Where is the Yurt?

As for the event that it was erected for? We're told it was put up in readiness for a Mongolian TV crew that visited the campus recently.

If you'd like to see inside the Ger, you can contact cap.facilities@anu.edu.au.

If you have a hidden gem that you know about on campus that you'd like us to cover, we'd love to hear from you. You don't have to know much about the hidden gem's history as we can do the background research. Suggestions can be sent through to on.campus@anu.edu.au.