Introduction

Established in 1853, the University of Melbourne is a public-spirited institution that makes distinctive contributions to society in research, teaching and knowledge transfer.

Melbourne's teaching excellence has been rewarded two years in a row by grants from the Commonwealth Government's Learning and Teaching Performance Fund for Australian universities that demonstrate excellence in undergraduate teaching and learning.

Melbourne was also one of only three Australian universities to win ten citations -- the maximum number of awards possible -- under the Carrick Citations for Outstanding
Contributions to Student Learning. The citations recognise commitment by university staff who have shown outstanding leadership and innovation in teaching, and dedication and enthusiasm for student learning.

Background

The University of Melbourne was founded very early in the history of the colony of Victoria, less than 20 years after Batman and Fawkner arrived and less than two years after gold commenced the dramatic increase of population and wealth.

The University itself was a direct product of the gold rushes.

The legislation establishing the University of Melbourne was introduced late in 1852 and passed early in 1853, making it older than all the universities in England except Oxford, Cambridge, Durham and London, and older than most in the British empire. Its foundation was principally the result of the efforts of three men - barrister Redmond Barry, colonial auditor-general Hugh Childers and Lieutenant Governor Charles La Trobe.

The foundation stone was laid in July 1854, and the first four professors arrived early in 1855.

Initially there only four faculties, each with its own professor, four talented men attracted by high salaries. They were:

1. WP Wilson (Mathematics)

2. Henry E Rowe (Classics and Ancient History), who died soon after arrival and was replaced by MH Irving

3. Frederick McCoy (Natural Sciences)

4. WE Hearn (Modern History, Literature and Political Economy)

The University commenced with 16 students, subsequently dropping to 11 before rising slowly over the next few decades.

Government of the University was complex, consisting of a Council, a Senate and a Professorial Board. The first Vice-Chancellor was Hugh Childers, then still in his twenties, but in those years it was a much less important position than today.

In 1881 legislation made minor reforms to the University, including allowing for the admission of women. This confirmed a decision previously made within the University after a long and bitter battle. At first women were confined to arts, the first woman graduate being Bella Guerin in 1883. In 1887 women were admitted to medicine. There was some broadening of courses in areas of engineering and the sciences, but matters came to a head when it was discovered in 1902 that Frederick Dickson, the Bursar, had been siphoning off large sums of University money and that it was effectively bankrupt. A Royal Commission was appointed, chaired by Theodore Fink, into the governance and operation of the institution. The recommendations led to a broadening into more utilitarian courses in such areas as agriculture, dentistry and education, and a restoration of funding. There commenced a major period of renewal in the first decade of the century.

Significant reforms of university government in 1923 legislation reduced the significance of the Senate and made the Council more clearly the pre-eminent forum. However, there was the continuing problem that the first officer was a part-time unpaid Chancellor. Finally the first paid Vice-Chancellor, Raymond Priestley, was appointed in 1936 and succeeded in 1939 by John Medley.

Arguably the most important period for the University commenced after World War 2. A rapidly growing demand for higher education transformed the University of Melbourne from a small and elite institution which was far beyond the reach of most people in the community to a huge institution drawing from broadly across the population and offering instruction in an ever-increasing and changing range of courses, and which was now essentially Commonwealth funded. From the 1960s it was only one of a number of universities, and beyond them was a mounting number of competing tertiary colleges.

The 1980s and 1990s brought amalgamations with a number of those colleges, including the Melbourne College of Advanced Education and the Victorian College of the Arts, enhancing the university's role as a broadly based teaching and research institution.

In the late twentieth century, the University of Melbourne maintains its pre-eminent position among Australian universities and is increasingly international in its outlook and its reputation. 1998 saw the establishment of Melbourne's private arm, Melbourne University Private.

Melbourne and its graduates will continue to grow in the esteem of future generations in the new century, always proud of its fine history but always aiming to lead the way in higher education over the decades to come.

Campuses:

Burnley Campus is renowned for its environmental and ornamental horticultural educational programs. The Campus, set on 13 hectares of ornamental gardens just 7 kilometres from the CBD of Melbourne, has a long and esteemed history, celebrating its centenary in 1991.

Creswick campus is an important teaching location for the Faculty's forestry courses, perfectly located near a 610 hectare demonstration forest. Adjoining this forest is the 20 hectare campus of Creswick, with its extensive range of tree species, only 15 kilometres of Ballarat. Some of the buildings on the campus were part of the original Creswick goldfields hospital and are significant to Victoria's heritage.

Hawthorn campus: Melbourne Consulting and Custom Programs

Parkville campus

Victorian College of the Arts

Shepparton campus

Dookie campus

Werribee campus

Courses:

A wide range of vocational and academic short courses and diplomas are offered by the university.

Undergraduate degrees are offered in the disciplines of:
Arts, Engineering, Architecture, Science, Law, Medicine, Veterinary Science, Nursing, Dentistry, Education, Fine Arts, Music, Commerce, Computer Science and Physiotherapy.

Postgraduate studies in the preceding disciplines are available in the form of postgraduate diplomas and certificates, masters degrees and doctorates.

The University is also a significant research institute in the fields of Medical Science, Engineering, Public Policy, Computer Science and a number of other disciplines.