Adelaide University

The institute later became the University of South Australia during the Dawkins Revolution following a merger with amalgamated colleges dating back to the School of Art, also founded at the society.

Its history involve the development of penicillin, space exploration, sunscreen, the military tank, Wi-Fi, polymer banknotes and X-ray crystallography, and the study of viticulture and oenology.

The history of the University of Adelaide dates back to the Union College established in 1872 to provide education to aspiring Protestant ministers who were previously required to travel to the United Kingdom.

[58][59][60] The institute maintained strong ties with the neighbouring University of Adelaide that included the co-ordination of teaching, laboratories and examinations across fields of engineering and sciences.

[79][80][81][82][83] It was originally created by the Menzies government following World War II on the advice of a committee led by physicist Leslie H. Martin, during a period of high population growth and corresponding demand for secondary and tertiary education.

[77][83][84][85] This sector ceased to exist when, between 1989 and 1992, the Hawke-Keating government implemented the sweeping reforms of Education Minister John Dawkins that dismantled the binary system.

[10][51][89] Its expansion over the next few decades, including to sites on the west end of North Terrace, and broadening fields of studies contributed to its status as the state's largest university by student population.

[97][98][96] Following the release of several internal FOI documents retrieved by ABC News, it was later revealed that the merger talks failed due to disagreements on the post-merger institution's leadership structure.

[110][103] Warren Bebbington, who previously served as vice-chancellor at the University of Adelaide, described the proposed institution as a "lumbering dinosaur" in reference to its timing during an ongoing federal review of the higher education sector.

[107] Vice-chancellor Colin Stirling described plans to provide the new institution with A$300 million in research funding and scholarships as "unfair" to students who choose to study at Flinders University.

[111][112] An application for self-accreditation authority was submitted to the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA) on 15 January 2024, which was needed for the institution to offer courses that issue qualifications.

[147][88][128] The A$100 million Braggs Building, named after two Nobel laureates associated with the university, was built in 2013 and features a large number of cross-disciplinary scientific research facilities.

[160] The campus also incorporates part of the adjacent Lot Fourteen precinct, that is also home to the national headquarters of the Australian Space Agency among other institutions in the fields of science and technology.

[7][162][163][164] As part of the merger, its presence in the area will be expanded with the Australian Defence Technologies Academy to be located in the under-construction Innovation Centre, also to be home to the Space Assembly Integration and Testing Facility.

[173][174] It is a student hub that comprises "open plan" teaching and learning spaces, the main library on the east end and a central green common area with an outdoor cinema.

[192] According to legend, a blonde girl or young woman in Victorian-era attire named May supposedly haunts the manor, scaring patrons from the balcony or stairways.

[235] Located in city of Whyalla in the Eyre Peninsula, it is set on 22 hectares (54 acres) and offers studies in teacher education, nursing, midwifery, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, social work and human services.

[235][190] Based in the Limestone Coast, the Mount Gambier campus was established in 2005 and offers studies in commerce, teacher education, nursing, midwifery, social work and human services.

[4] The university is expected to continue its presence in the Adelaide BioMed City research precinct and remain in Lot Fourteen next to the Australian Space Agency headquarters.

[172][7] As part of the merger, the Australian Defence Technologies Academy will also be opened in Lot Fourteen in the under-construction Innovation Centre, also to be home to the Space Assembly Integration and Testing Facility.

[277][273][275] Between the pillars and the arches are two large Latin inscriptions that run across both sides of the room in gold and commemorate the donations from Robert and his family who played a major role in its development.

[292][293] Notable artefacts held at the library include a hide belt gifted by former President Ronald Reagan, the jacket he wore to the 1983 America's Cup celebrations, a replica of a Panther Model 100 motorcycle that he crashed as a university student and several prime ministerial briefcases.

[369][370][371] These include the first female Australian prime minister Julia Gillard,[372] Singaporean presidents Tony Tan[373] and Ong Teng Cheong,[374] the first Australian-born astronaut Andy Thomas,[375] the first demonstrator of nuclear fusion Mark Oliphant,[376] the founding editor-in-chief of Vogue China Angelica Cheung,[377] singer-songwriter Guy Sebastian,[378] the industrialist Edward Holden who founded Australian automobile manufacturer GM Holden,[379] the speech therapist Lionel Logue who helped King George VI manage his stammer,[380] the inventor of modern sunscreen Milton Blake,[381] Neil Weste whose advancements in wireless communications are widely used[382] and several Olympians and Paralympians including Matthew Cowdrey.

[392] Its history include the development of penicillin, space exploration, sunscreen, the military tank, Wi-Fi, polymer banknotes and X-ray crystallography, and the study of viticulture and oenology.

[399][396][400] Howard Florey, a pharmacologist and pathologist, shared the 1945 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine with Alexander Fleming and Ernst Chain for their role in the development of penicillin.

[401] Robin Warren was a pathologist who, alongside Barry Marshall, discovered that peptic ulcers were largely caused by the infection Helicobacter pylori, graduated in 1961.

[406] The institutions' vice-chancellors David Lloyd and Peter Høj criticised the claims, referring to them as "whispers of Little Birds or Littlefingers",[407] though they had previously admitted that the "two-by-two approach across the board" was "not as linear as first conceived”.

[411] As of 2024, UNSW is considering reversing the change following a 40% drop in paid hours for staff, decreased time for non-academic activities and student burnout from increased workload.

[411] In February 2024, the State Government drew criticism for its plans to convert land it had purchased from two University of South Australia campuses for housing and commercial re-development.

[195] Following the release of several internal FOI documents retrieved by InDaily from the Premier's Office, it was later revealed that the land was "earmarked for future development" for residential and commercial purposes.

An illustration of the founders of the University of Adelaide from an 1875 engraving.
The founders of the University of Adelaide (1875 engraving)
This is a photograph of the Elder and Bonython Halls in 1936.
Elder Hall and Bonython Hall , its two great halls , in 1936
This is a photograph of students on horse cart taking part in the annual Prosh event IN 1905, poking fun at Nobel Prize laureates Bragg and Bragg. A poster reads "Do not Bragg about radium".
Students with satirical posters at the annual Prosh in 1905
This is a portrait of Queen Victoria whose royal charter allowed women to study at the university.
A royal charter grant by Queen Victoria allowed women to study at the University of Adelaide
This is a photograph of the Roseworthy Agricultural College established in 1883.
The Roseworthy Agricultural College established in 1883
This is a photograph of the now-demolished Jubilee Exhibition Building in 1885.
The now-demolished Jubilee Exhibition Building in 1885
This is a 1903 photograph of the Brookman Building, the ancestral home of the University of South Australia, shortly following its construction.
Brookman Building (1903) is the ancestral home of the University of South Australia
This map shows the university and the locations of its neighbouring institutions in 1926.
State of the university and its surrounding institutions in 1926
This is a photograph of the Hawke Building, which is the chancellery of the University of South Australia on the west end.
The Hawke Building is the chancellery of the University of South Australia on the west end
This is a photograph of the Brookman Building of the University of South Australia through which both universities have had an intertwined history.
The University of South Australia's Brookman Building adjacent to Bonython Hall
This is a photograph of two neighbouring buildings, each belonging to the University of South Australia and the University of Adelaide respectively.
The University of Adelaide (right) is set to merge with the University of South Australia (left) by 1 January 2026
Bonython Hall adjacent to the University of South Australia's Brookman Building
This is a photograph of the Mitchell Building built in 1882, the oldest building on campus.
The Mitchell Building was completed in 1882 and is the oldest building on campus
This is a photograph of the interior of Bonython Hall, a venue for graduations and other events, during a public forum on nuclear energy.
The interior of Bonython Hall , used for graduations, during a forum on nuclear energy
This is a photograph of the Barr Smith Library.
The Barr Smith Library on the main Adelaide campus
This is a photograph of the Cloisters that form part of the Adelaide University Union redevelopment that connect the Union buildings with the surrounding buildings.
The Cloisters are a war memorial to University of Adelaide members who served and died during World War I
This is a photograph of the National Wine Centre of Australia on North Terrace.
The National Wine Centre of Australia on North Terrace
This is a photograph of the Bradley Building, named after Denise Bradley, that is part of the Adelaide BioMed City research precinct.
The Bradley Building, named after Denise Bradley , is part of the Adelaide BioMed City
This is a photograph of the Adelaide Health and Medical Sciences Building.
The Adelaide Health and Medical Sciences Building
This is the photograph of the Jeffrey Smart Building which includes staff and student spaces and the east end library.
The Jeffrey Smart Building includes staff and student spaces and the east end library
This is a photograph of the heritage-listed Murray House and surrounding parklands on the Magill campus.
The Magill campus includes the heritage-listed Murray House and surrounding parklands
This is a photograph of Building X on the Mawson Lakes campus which is adjacent to Technology Park Adelaide.
Building X on the Mawson Lakes campus adjacent to Technology Park Adelaide
This is a photograph of the main building at the Waite campus, which is home to the Waite Research Institute.
The Waite campus is home to the Waite Research Institute
This is a photograph of "The Plant Accelerator" on the Waite campus in Urrbrae, a plant phenotyping facility.
The Plant Accelerator is a plant phenotyping facility
This is a photograph of the main building on the Roseworthy campus which was built in 1883 and now serves as a student hub.
The Roseworthy College Hall, built in 1884, is a student hub
This is a photograph of the Roseworthy Memorial Chapel, which was built to memorialise fallen soldiers from the college.
The Roseworthy Memorial Chapel was built to memorialise fallen soldiers from the college
This is a photograph of the Jeffrey Smart Building.
The Jeffrey Smart Building
This is a photograph of the Australian Institute for Machine Learning next to the Australian Space Agency headquarters in Lot Fourteen.
The Australian Institute for Machine Learning next to the Australian Space Agency HQ
This is a photograph of a South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute building in North Terrace.
South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute
This is a photograph of the entrance to Bonython Hall.
An entrance to Bonython Hall
This is a photograph of the Barr Smith Library which was built in the Georgian Revival style with Corinthian pillars.
Corinthian pillars incorporated into the Barr Smith Library
This is a photograph of the Reading Room inside the Barr Smith Library. It features gold and ivory arches, pillars and a high ceiling.
The Reading Room in the library features gilded ivory arches and tall pillars
This is a photograph of the Hartley Building, which is the planned home of the Julia Gillard Prime Ministerial Library.
The Hartley Building is the planned home of the Julia Gillard Prime Ministerial Library
This is a photograph of the State Library of South Australia, located adjacent to the university, where studies were initially conducted.
The State Library will be co-located with the university
This is a photograph of the "K Mak at the Planetarium" exhibition at the Adelaide Planetarium in 2024.
The K Mak at the Planetarium exhibition at the Adelaide Planetarium in 2024 [ 305 ]
This is a photograph of the Mawson Laboratories to where the Tate Museum moved from the former Prince of Wales building in 1952
The Tate Museum is located at the Mawson Laboratories
This is a photograph of Urrbrae House, now a museum forming part of the Waite Historic Precinct.
The Urrbrae House, built in 1891, is now a museum
This is a photograph of the Elder Hall, a venue for concerts and events with a statue of early benefactor Thomas Elder in front.
Elder Hall, named after early donor Thomas Elder , integrates freestone from Mount Gambier
This is a photograph of the interior of the Elder Hall, which was inspired by Florentine Gothic architecture.
The Elder Hall was inspired by Florentine Gothic architecture
This is a photograph of the National Wine Centre of Australia.
The National Wine Centre of Australia on North Terrace
This is a photograph of a footpath along the southern fence on War Memorial Drive in winter.
A footpath along the west end sites on War Memorial Drive
This is a photograph of the indoor pool located in Pridham Hall, a gymnasium and multi-sport facility.
Pridham Hall is a gymnasium and multi-sport facility
This is a photograph of the Barr Smith Boat Shed of the Adelaide University Boat Club, donated by Robert Barr Smith.
The Barr Smith Boat Shed donated by Robert Barr Smith
This is a photograph of the Newland Building at St. Mark's College, one of several private residential colleges near the university.
Newland Building of St. Mark's College , one of several private residential colleges
This is a photograph of Abraham House, one of a number of heritage-listed buildings at Lincoln College, a residential college for university students in Adelaide.
Abraham House, one of several heritage buildings that are part of Lincoln College