And if you're feeling anxious, it may comfort you to know that one of Canberra's most iconic buildings has a massive, solidly-built nuclear bunker ready to give shelter.

University House, the Australian National University's first permanent building, is a stellar example of mid-century design and flair.

The heritage-listed social hub was opened in 1954 by the Duke of Edinburgh, and in the decades since has hosted legions of distinguished guests, graduate students and public service riff-raff.

It also opened at the height of Cold War anxiety, and the nuclear shelter spanning all four sides of the rectangular structure would have provided an extra layer of assurance, even in tranquil, 1950s Canberra.

Today, it's a dank, dark, never-ending pipe-filled hallway that, in the decades since the building first opened, has become something of a hoarder's paradise.

When a violent hailstorm tore through central Canberra in January 2020, University House was one of scores of buildings damaged across the sprawling campus.

More rain began leaking through the damaged roof tiles two weeks later, and the entire building was evacuated and, eventually, emptied of all its contents.

When the university's senior collections adviser Claire Sheridan first ventured down into what are today known as the "tunnels", she and her team were met with roomfuls of stored detritus.

From heritage furniture to old typewriters and kettles, building blueprints, musical scores, broken tiles and old building tools, the bunker had become a time capsule for university life over the decades.

There was also a wood-panelled maintenance office, with a hidden storage cupboard and keys to every door in the building.

"We've left the keys where they are - we didn't want to think about what would happen if any were lost," she said, while taking The Canberra Times on a private subterranean tour.

Above ground, the house is now entirely empty, the roof temporarily storm-sealed and the grounds and buildings closed to the public.

House master Peter Kanowski said insurance claims settled in November last year, but that the figure that lies somewhere close to $60 million would only bring the building back to the state it was in when the hail hit.

As it turns out, University House was poised to embark on a massive renovation project leading up to its 70th anniversary in 2024 - the tenders had only just been released before the storm.

But now, it's not clear how long such a project might take.

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Planning for repairs began in January, and major works should start by May 2022.

The eventual return to operations - University House is a boutique hotel as well as student accommodation and ceremonial hub - will be staged, with public areas like the beer garden set to open first.

But as is sometimes the case in the aftermath of a natural disaster, new opportunities have arisen.

Professor Kanowski says the ceremonial rooms, such as the dining hall and foyer, ironically, now look very much like they would have when the building was first opened, as many of the now-acclaimed artworks weren't installed for several years.

The walls of the iconic dining hall, now stained with early decades of pipe smoke, have been adorned since 1972 with a monumental mural, Regeneration, by Leonard French, and a 10-part series of his work, entitled Journey.

The many artworks dotted throughout the building, including pieces by Arthur Boyd, John Brack, John Olsen and Clarice Beckett, have now been safely stored away.

"What we were most concerned about was the artwork," he says.

"There was some seepage behind some of the portraits of the vice-chancellors that were in one of the formal rooms, but it turns out, fortunately, just superficial damage to the frames.

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"But with the Leonard French, we've used the opportunity to restore it, so it looks fantastic."

When University House first opened, the Sydney Morning Herald declared it was to be "a museum of contemporary art".

The Brian Lewis-designed building was a post-war statement - an integrated package of landscape design, art, sculpture and furniture designed by Fred Ward.

And at a time when there was precious little art on display in the capital - the National Gallery of Australia was still 28 years away from opening - it was an early standout for its extensive art collection and stylish fittings.

But for now, the building remains empty - of art, people and things.

The corridors and rooms off the massive bunker have been thoroughly cleared, restoring the building, once again, to being the safest place on campus.

It's good to know it's there.

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