University of Adelaide

Foundation The history of the university 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. It provided education in the natural sciences, mathematics, English literature and theological studies of the Greek Testament. The college approached Scottish-born pastoralist Walter Watson Hughes with the proposal for a then-called Adelaide University with a request for endowment towards its creation. The University of Adelaide, which is named after its founding city namesake to Queen Adelaide, was formally established on 6 November 1874 following the passage of The Adelaide University Act of 1874 through the South Australian parliament. The parliament also provided a 2 hectare (5 acre) land grant for a campus. Its royal charter, which was granted by Queen Victoria in 1881, allowed the university to confer degrees to women. Its early benefactors, many of whom Scottish immigrants, made large donations to develop the university that are now worth tens of millions adjusted for inflation. The university initially occupied the South Australian Institute Building prior to the construction of the University Building which housed the entire university at the time. Elder also bequeathed an additional £65,000 in his will following his death in 1897 of which £20,000 were allocated to set up the Elder Conservatorium of Music. According to its founding Act, the university was intended as a secular institution to "promote sound learning in the Province of South Australia" to be "open to all classes and denominations of Her Majesty's subjects". Its first chancellor was former premier Richard Hanson and its first vice-chancellor was Anglican bishop Augustus Short. Its first graduate was Thomas Ainslie Caterer, who graduated in 1879 with a Bachelor of Arts. In 1882, it was also the first university in Australia to provide degree programs in science and its faculty of arts was inaugurated in 1887. Its Adelaide Law School was established in 1883 as Australia's second law school, its medical school in 1885 and its Adelaide Business School in 1902 as the country's first business school. They have produced some of Australia's earliest businesspeople, lawyers, medical professionals and politicians. Another early benefactor Robert Barr Smith, who had previously studied under financial hardship in Scotland and served on the University Council for 19 years, had long desired for education to be accessible to all students in Adelaide. , used for graduations, during a forum on nuclear energy|alt=This is a photograph of the interior of Bonython Hall, a venue for graduations and other events, during a public forum on nuclear energy. Bonython Hall, the great hall of the university, was built in 1936 following a donation of over £50,000 from the owner of The Advertiser newspaper, John Langdon Bonython, who was inspired following his visit to the Great Hall of the University of Sydney. The hall, which is used during graduation ceremonies among other events, was designed by architect Louis Laybourne-Smith based on medieval great halls in a Gothic Revival architecture style inspired by the ancient universities in Europe. , inspired by the Great Hall of the University of Sydney and ancient universities The institution was the third of its kind on the Australian continent after the Universities of Sydney and Melbourne, which then educated solely men. The university, which allowed women to study alongside men since its commencement including eligibility for all academic prizes and honours, became the second university in the English-speaking world following the University of London in 1878 to formally admit women on equal terms as men in 1881. This was following a royal charter granted by Queen Victoria that year, which allowed for women to be conferred degrees. Additionally, the university previously operated research facilities across in Thebarton approximately north of the campus until 2020 when it was sold for housing development. The flames for several summer Olympic Games, among other sporting events, were developed there with the now-called FCT Flames. Neighbouring amalgamations in 1885 The SA School of Art was founded in 1856 by the former Royal South Australian Society of Arts, predating the university which was also established there. The independent art school, which went through many name changes, resided for most of its history at the Jubilee Exhibition Building which was later transferred to the university in 1929. The Jubilee Exhibition Building was also the birthplace of the South Australian Institute of Technology which was established in 1889 as the SA School of Mines and Industries. It moved to the neighbouring Brookman Building in 1903, named after the Scottish-born businessman George Brookman who contributed £15,000 towards its construction. The institution acted de facto as part of the university while remaining legally distinct. The institution expanded into the site of the former Adelaide Technical High School in 1963, to the regional city of Whyalla in 1962 and to the Adelaide suburb of Mawson Lakes as The Levels in 1972. The Adelaide Teachers College, which changed names and shifted locations multiple times throughout its existence, was established in 1876. The Hartley Building, named after former vice-chancellor John Anderson Hartley, was built as its permanent home in 1927. The combined institution continued its presence alongside the university as its City campus and maintained joint teaching, facilities and committees. Stronger demand for advanced college places throughout the country resulted from a broadening appeal of higher education beyond the traditionally elite education provided by the universities. Advanced colleges were originally designed to complement universities, forming a binary system modelled on that of the United Kingdom. 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. 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. The states, eager for increased education funding, merged the colleges either with existing universities or with each other to form new universities. Following its expansion and increasing autonomy from the university, the South Australian Institute of Technology was given the option to merge with either TAFE South Australia or the South Australian College of Advanced Education. 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. In June 2018, the University of Adelaide and University of South Australia began discussions regarding the possibility of a merger. The proposition was dubbed a "super uni" by then South Australian premier, Steven Marshall, and Simon Birmingham, but the merger was called off in October 2018 by the University of South Australia, which was less keen. In early 2022, the topic of a merger was raised again by the new state government led by premier Peter Malinauskas, which proposed setting up an independent commission to investigate the possibility of a merger between the state's three public universities should they decline. He had made an election promise to take a heavy-handed approach towards the merger to reduce students departing to higher-ranking institutions on the east coast and to improve the state's ability to attract international students and researchers. Following the appointment of merger advocate Peter Høj as University of Adelaide vice-chancellor, both universities announced that a merger would once again be considered. The invitation to merger negotiations was rejected by Flinders University, the state's third public university. (left) by 1 January 2026|alt=This is a photograph of two neighbouring buildings, each belonging to the University of South Australia and the University of Adelaide respectively. The agreement for the merger was reached on 1 July 2023 by the two universities, which then accounted for approximately two-thirds of the state's public university population, in consultation with the South Australian Government. The rationale for the amalgamation was a larger institutional scale may be needed in order to increase the universities' ranking positions, ability to secure future research income and a net positive impact on the state economy. The two universities argued that by combining their expertise, resources and finances into a single institution, they can be more financially viable, with stronger teaching and research outcomes. 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. Following approval on 22 May 2024, students starting studies at the pre-merger institutions from 2025 onwards will be issued degree certificates from Adelaide University. Students enrolled on or prior to 2024 will also be able to opt in adding antecedent institutions' names and logos on their parchments. It is projected to have 70,000 students at launch, with one-in-four students being international students, and contribute approximately to the Australian economy annually. The amalgamation has been subject to mixed reactions. ==Campuses and buildings==

Adelaide The primary campus of the university is located on North Terrace in the Adelaide city centre, one of four terraces bounding the inner city's central business district. It is co-located on its west with the historical Royal South Australian Society of Arts which included the Art Gallery of South Australia, the South Australian Museum and the State Library of South Australia. Built in the Gothic Revival architecture style in 1882, the Mitchell Building is the oldest building on the campus. It was called the University Building until 1961 when it was renamed after William Mitchell. The Barr Smith Library is the main library on the site and is notable for its large reading room. , integrates freestone from Mount Gambier Bonython Hall, the great hall used during graduation ceremonies, is a prominent building facing the terrace. It is a large concert hall that is used by the Elder Conservatorium of Music among others and, along with Bonython Hall, both feature large organs. It features two revolving stages and a seating capacity of 635 people. The College Green stretches from the Cloisters across the lawns down to Victoria Drive, next to the River Torrens. It hosts various social events throughout the year including parties, live bands, DJs and open-air cinema among others. It was created in response to the impact of social distancing restrictions owing to the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia, which hit many live music venues. The Napier and Ligertwood Buildings were built following the demolition of the Jubilee Exhibition Building in 1962. They are named after Mellis Napier and George Ligertwood who were both former chancellors. The Mawson Building (originally Mawson Laboratories) was named after geologist and Antarctic explorer Sir Douglas Mawson, who taught at the university from 1905 (professor from 1921) until his retirement in 1952. The building was completed in 1953. The Tate Museum, which houses the Mawson Institute for Antarctic Research (founded 1959), and Mawson Geo Centre are located in this building. Some other notable buildings include the Ingkarni Wardli Building, Darling Building, Hartley Building, and the Helen Mayo North and South Buildings. The Adelaide University Footbridge was constructed in 1937 following a decade of delays during the Great Depression. The footbridge, which crosses the River Torrens, features cast iron balustrading that is a popular location for love locks. It created some of the most significant buildings in the complex. The redevelopment was designed by lead architect Robert Dickson and includes a heritage-listed group of buildings including the Union House, the Lady Symon Building named after the wife of Josiah Symon, the George Murray Building, the Cloisters and the Western Annexe. The earlier Georgian-style buildings were designed by the architects Woods, Bagot, Jory and Laybourne-Smith who also designed Bonython Hall, the Mitchell Gates, the Johnson Laboratories, the Barr Smith Library, and the Benham Laboratories. There are three plaques on the site, with the latest added in 2015 to mark the centenary of the Gallipoli landing. It also operates the National Wine Centre further along of the terrace and adjacent to the Adelaide Botanic Garden. The biomedical teaching and research facility was completed in 2017 and is home to various clinical and simulation facilities in the fields of healthcare and medicine. Approximately half of the land donated was dedicated for studies in agriculture and the remainder as a public park. The Waite Agricultural Research Institute was established in 1924. Its first director was Arnold E. V. Richardson. The Urrbrae House built in 1891, now a museum, served as the home of Peter and Matilda Waite who purchased the land with support from Thomas Elder. Its interior & Co is designed by Aldam Heaton & Co, who was also responsible for designing interiors for the Titanic. The Waite Conservation Reserve, also co-located on the campus, is home to native plants and wildlife. Roseworthy Located north of the city, the Roseworthy campus comprises of farmland and is a large centre for agricultural research and veterinary sciences. It was the site of the former Roseworthy Agricultural College which was established in 1883 as the first agricultural college in Australia. Its clock tower features a Swiss precision clock that is synced via GPS with Greenwich Mean Time. Before studies in oenology were transferred to the Waite campus, the college had produced a number of highly regarded and awarded winemakers and wine critics. Following the merger, the campus expanded its focus in dryland agriculture, natural resource management and animal production by the mid-1990s. The campus is also now home to South Australia's first veterinary science training program, which commenced in 2008. The Veterinary Science Centre houses teaching facilities including a surgical skills suite, a public veterinary clinic offering general practice as well as emergency and specialist veterinary services for pet animals. There are also specialised pathology laboratories at the centre for teaching, research and diagnostics. It was built in 1955 to memorialise students from the former college who died during World War I, World War II and the Boer Wars. The entrance features a limestone statue of a young soldier "discarding his uniform in readiness to return to the land". Its 3,200 solar panels are estimated to produce 42% of the campus' energy requirements. ==Governance and structure==

, a great hall of the university, and venue for graduation events Faculties and departments Research and teaching is organised into three faculties, each of which contains a number of constituent schools, departments and institutes. The current faculties at the university were developed over a series of mergers, the latest of which were in 2022 following a merger between the Arts and Professions faculties and the Faculty of Sciences into the Faculty of Engineering, Computer and Mathematical Sciences. The establishment of faculties and academic departments is formally the responsibility of the University Council. at a ceremony to present the 2010 Human Rights Medal to Therese Rein prior to her chancellorship|alt=This is a photograph of Catherine Branson at a ceremony to present the 2010 Human Rights Medal to Therese Rein before her chancellorship at the University of Adelaide. University Council The main governing body of the institution is its Council. Branson was appointed by the University Council. While the chancellor's office is ceremonial, the vice-chancellor serves as the university's de facto principal administrative officer. The university's internal governance is carried out by the University Council formed through the University of Adelaide Act 1971. Finances and endowment In 2023, the University of Adelaide had a total revenue of (2022 – ) and a total expenditure of (2022 – ). Heraldry and insignia The university uses a number of symbols to represent the institution. The present logo is based on the coat of arms. The overall branding is expected to be superseded following the merger. Additionally, Adelaide University Sport has its own crest and motto. These were usually grant by the College of Arms in London due to, as opposed to the United Kingdom and Canada, an absence of a national heraldic authority. The coat of arms of the university was grant during the reign of George V in 1925 and has historically since been used on all degree parchments issued by the university. While some universities such as the Universities of Western Australia and Queensland have modified the coat of arms issued on parchments over time, its design has mostly remained the same with the exception of a minor tweak to the crux. As part of the merger, the coat of arms has been de facto retired for new students and will only be available to University of Adelaide alumni and continuing students who started their programs on or before 2024. University mace Many universities possess ceremonial maces used during graduation ceremonies. The first mace bearer was KH Boykett in 1926 who carried it during the 50th anniversary jubilee of the first classes at St Peter's Cathedral. ==Academic profile==

The university is a member of the Group of Eight, a coalition of research-led Australian universities. It is also a member of the Association of Pacific Rim Universities, an international association of research-intensive universities, and the former Academic Consortium 21. It plans to merge with the University of South Australia, forms part of the Adelaide BioMed City research precinct and is a close partner with the Australian Space Agency whose national headquarters is located alongside it on Lot Fourteen. The university also offers a wide range of free online MOOC courses on digital learning platforms edX and FutureLearn, including the MathTrackX bridging program. The university also offers degree programs in Singapore as part of a joint venture with the Ngee Ann Kongsi foundation. Research and publications |alt=This is a photograph of a South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute building in North Terrace. In 2023, the University of Adelaide had a total research income of , of which was from the National Competitive Grants Program; from other public sector research; from Cooperative Research Centres; and from industry and other research. In the 2018 ERA National Report, the Australian Research Council evaluated work produced between 2014 and 2018. 100 per cent of the university's research activity was judged to be "at or above world standard" (3-5*) with 57 of the 67 fields of research evaluated being "above world standard" (4*) or "well above world standard" (5*). The university had a positive trajectory since 2010. Notable examples include: next to the Australian Space Agency HQ|alt=This is a photograph of the Australian Institute for Machine Learning next to the Australian Space Agency headquarters in Lot Fourteen. Australian Institute for Machine Learning The Australian Institute for Machine Learning (AIML) is an artificial intelligence and machine learning research and translation institute based on Lot Fourteen, a business and technology precinct. It is located in a former Royal Adelaide Hospital building in-between the Australian Space Agency headquarters and the University of South Australia's Brookman Building. Established in 2018 with funding from the South Australian government, it is the largest university-based research site dedicated to machine learning in Australia, as well as ranking among the global top sites for its computer vision research capability. The institute runs on an open access basis; most of its research is open to the rest of the world, either through conferences and journals or via open source software. Its researchers have used machine learning to support industries such as agriculture, medical imaging, defence, space exploration, manufacturing, mining operations and filmmaking. Notable partners have included its foundational partner Lockheed Martin, Rising Sun Pictures and Microsoft. Defence and Security Institute The Defence and Security Institute in Lot Fourteen conducts research in the defence and security sectors including lasers, robotics, autonomous systems, CBRN defence, space exploration, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and fields of quantum mechanics. Environment Institute The Environment Institute specialises in environmental sciences and research in the areas of climate, biodiversity, ecology and marine sciences. Institute for Photonics and Advanced Sensing The Institute for Photonics and Advanced Sensing specialises in photonics, sensing and precision measurement technology. It is based in the Braggs Building, a purpose-built headquarters funded with support from the federal and state governments. The institute has 10 research groups and is home to various interdisciplinary scientific and advanced manufacturing facilities. It has developed high-precision measuring instruments used in the agriculture, defence, health, space exploration, tectonics, earth system science, manufacturing, mining and resources sectors. Institute for Sustainability, Energy and Resources The Institute for Sustainability, Energy and Resources conducts research in the sustainability, energy, mining and resources sectors. It has over 20 research centres in fields including mineralology, geosciences, ecology, energy generation, space resources, food production, mineral processing, radiation science, hydrogen production, supply chains, environmental and natural resources. Robinson Research Institute The Robinson Research Institute conducts biomedical research concerning fertility, pregnancy and child health. It has over 45 research groups specialising in fields including biotechnology, congenital disorders, endocrinology, epigenics, genomics, gynaecology, immunology, medical machine learning, medicine, metabolic health, neurology, nutrition, obesity, obstetrics, oncology, ovarian development, placental development, pharmacology, polysomnography, reproductive biology, vaccinology and women's health. South Australian immunoGENomics Cancer Institute The South Australian immunoGENomics Cancer Institute (SAiGENCI) is a planned ( cancer research institute. It was established through in funding from the federal government, which was obtained with the support of South Australian Senator Stirling Griff. It is jointly resourced by the federal Department of Health and Aged Care, the Central Adelaide Local Health Network, and the University of Adelaide. SAiGENCI is located in the Adelaide Health and Medical Sciences Building, in between the University of South Australia's Bradley Building and the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, adjacent to the Royal Adelaide Hospital. is named in honour of Hugh Stretton, who was professor and reader at the university from 1954 until he retired in 1989. It was established in 2020 under director Adam Graycar "to conduct research on public policy issues in a multi-disciplinary and multi-method manner and to contribute to policy agendas locally and beyond". The inaugural Hugh Stretton Oration was held in 2021, with Glyn Davis as the speaker, after being postponed from 2020. Waite Research Institute The Waite Research Institute specialises and conducts research in agricultural science, viticulture, oenology, plant breeding, food research and biotechnology. It is located on the Waite campus in Adelaide's south-eastern foothills, in the suburb of Urrbrae on , a large amount of which was donated through the will of Scottish-born pastoralist Peter Waite. A Soil Research Centre was founded in 1929 with a donation of £10,000 from Harold Darling of J. Darling and Son, grain merchants. In 2004, State Premier Mike Rann opened the Plant Genomics Centre at the campus. In 2010, he opened The Plant Accelerator, a research facility which is the largest and most advanced of its kind in the world. == Academic reputation ==

In the 2024 Aggregate Ranking of Top Universities, which measures aggregate performance across the QS, THE and ARWU rankings, the university attained a position of #95 (8th nationally). National publications In the Australian Financial Review Best Universities Ranking 2025, the university was ranked #7 amongst Australian universities. Global publications In the 2025 Quacquarelli Symonds World University Rankings (published 2024), the university attained a tied position of #82 (8th nationally). In the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2025 (published 2024), the university attained a tied position of #128 (7th nationally). In the 2025 Academic Ranking of World Universities, the university attained a position of #151–200 (8th nationally). In the 2025–2026 U.S. News & World Report Best Global Universities, the university attained a position of #99 (9th nationally). In the CWTS Leiden Ranking 2024, the university attained a position of #205 (7th nationally). == Libraries and archives ==

where studies were initially conductedThe library system comprises four libraries located across its three campuses. The largest library is the Barr Smith Library which is located with the Sir John Salmond Law Library on the main campus and the two satellite campuses each have their own libraries. Additionally, the university also has several open access repositories and university members have subscriptions to online academic journals and databases. The State Library of South Australia is also co-located with the university. The library purchased its first book in 1877 for £11, prior to its formal establishment in 1882. Robert's granddaughter Christine Margaret Mcgregor also donated almost 5,000 books in 1974. It was later expanded twice to increase capacity, reaching a peak of 2 million books in 1999. The library is also home to a collection of rare books, the archives documenting the development of the university among other collections across various subject areas. This includes books belonging to Samuel Way's collection, who had donated 16,000 books. In 1967, the law library moved to the Ligertwood Building, which was among those that replaced the demolished Jubilee Exhibition Building. It was renamed two years later after John William Salmond who was the third Professor of Law at the Adelaide Law School. It dates back to the former Tassie Memorial Library which was funded by John Tassie in 1920. It was built as a memorial to his son, also named John Tassie, who was a student at the then Roseworthy College who died during World War I in France. It was later expanded in 1945 through donations by A Lowrie, the widow of former principal William Lowrie. The William Lowrie Memorial Annexe, which connected to the previous library in a T-shape, was completed in 1947. The library moved to its current site in 1974 due to increasing size constraints with the former site now used as a gymnasium. Waite Woolhouse Library The Waite Campus Library, also known as the Woolhouse Library, is located on the Waite campus in Urrbrae. ==Museums and collections==

Tate Museum The Tate Museum is a large geological museum housed in the Mawson Building. It is one of the largest geological museums in Australia, with a collection of approximately 29,000 rocks and fossils including meteorites, tektites, and specimens of early life. Notable specimens include some of earth's earliest organisms from the Ediacaran, a number of which are from up to 550 million years ago, as well as a display on an asteroid impact that smashed into the state's Gawler Ranges around 580 million years ago, and its associated widespread ejecta layer. The museum also hosts artefacts from Mawson's various expeditions to the Antarctic, including one of his original sleds, The museum's first official curator is Tony Milnes, who had worked to restore and document the large collection. from over 1,000 taxa, many of which are endangered in the wild. The Waite Conservation Reserve is home to native plants and fauna. == Other divisions ==

Other notable divisions of the university include: Elder Conservatorium Gothic architecture|alt=This is a photograph of the interior of the Elder Hall, which was inspired by Florentine Gothic architecture. Established in 1883, the Elder Conservatorium of Music is the oldest tertiary music academy in Australia. It offers study and research programs in jazz, classical performance, musical theatre, classical voice, pop music, sonic arts, music production, song-writing, music composition, conducting, teaching, ensembles and performance studies. The conservatorium also offers theatre performances and Lunchtime and After Hours concert series. The academy's first Professor of Music was Cambridge graduate Joshua Ives, also the first professor of music in Australia. Edward Harold Davies was the first Australian to graduate with a Doctor of Music in 1902 and Ruby Claudia Davy was the first Australian woman to earn the doctorate. The Elder Hall used by the conservatorium was built following the death of its namesake and music lover Thomas Elder who left £20,000 towards its construction. The South Australian Register reported the next day that the great hall was opened by Lord Tennyson "positively for the last time" and that "the majority of those who were present had already attended at two more or less appropriate ceremonial openings of the Elder Hall". Its current organ is built by Casavant Fréres of Quebec in 1979, having replaced the previous Dodd organ that later was purchased by St Mark's Cathedral in Port Pirie. Opened in 2001, the facility also hosts public exhibitions about winemaking and its industry in South Australia. It contains an interactive permanent exhibition of winemaking, introducing visitors to the technology, varieties and styles of wine. ==Student life==

Student association }} Founded in 1895, the Adelaide University Union, trading as YouX, is one of the oldest students' unions in Australia. The union operates both as the representative voice for university students and as a provider of a wide range of services. It is democratically controlled through its Board and Students Representatives Council and is run by elected student officers. The union also supports a range of services, including numerous clubs and societies, social events and an advice service. Union members also receive various discounts including at the UniBar, cafes and shops. As of 2024, there are over 175 clubs and societies under the umbrella of the union. These include the Adelaide University Sciences Association (the oldest society at the union not related to sports), the Adelaide Medical Students' Society established in 1889 and formerly the Adelaide University Sports Association whose founding clubs predate and ultimately founded the union. Annual Prosh The student union also organises the annual Prosh week events inspired by the medieval tradition of ragging or "an extensive display of noisy disorderly conduct, carried on in defiance of authority or discipline". The annual Procesh procession began in 1905 as a means for students to poke fun at established South Australian institutions, though ragging at the university dates back to the late 19th century. Among notable pranks, students suspended a Holden car on Adelaide University Footbridge in 1971 above the River Torrens as part of Operation Bridge-hang. ABOUT RADIUM" Since 1954, the event has also involved the sale of satirical newspapers in public settings. The Prosh Rag, later an annual issue of the On Dit student magazine, contains humorous references to various well-known persons of the day. It has been sold on city streets by students to raise funds for charity as an attempt to legitimise the event following attempts to ban it in the early 1950s. Student newspapers and radio On Dit (pronounced on-dee), the second-oldest student-run print media in Australia, was established by the student union in 1932. It is named after the French expression "we say" and operates independently of the university. The Prosh Rag, which contains satirical content, is another special issue that is sold by students to the public to raise funds for charities. It is the successor to the Varsity Ragge which was founded in 1929. It also published news, poetry and comedic works from various student clubs and societies, including the neighbouring Adelaide Teachers College which later became part of the university campus. The Adelaide University Magazine was another student-run magazine that began printing in 1918. Following the establishment of On Dit as the official organ of the student union, it renamed to the Phoenix in 1935 as a modernist cultural and artistic magazine with literary works including poetry. Following funding cuts in 1940, its editors founded the Angry Penguins which was influential in the then-isolationist Australia as a socially-progressive magazine promoting internationalism. The magazine ceased operations after six years, following the Ern Malley hoax that set back modernism in the country. Other historical student newspapers include The Torch and Flambeau, also associated with the affiliated Adelaide Teachers College which later merged with the university. Adelaide University Student Radio was established in 1975 and was the oldest student-run radio program in Australia. Sports and athletics was donated by Robert Barr Smith|alt=This is a photograph of the Barr Smith Boat Shed of the Adelaide University Boat Club, donated by Robert Barr Smith. Established in 1896, Adelaide University Sport has 37 sports clubs, including some that predate its establishment. Its sporting colours black and white are likely from the white-backed magpie, an Australian bird found on its crest and the state badge. Its mascot is Gus, a black lion, which replaced the piping shrike on its historical crest. Its primary boat shed was donated by Robert Barr Smith in 1909. Several Olympians have previously been members of the club including Collier Cudmore who later became Australia's first gold medalist in rowing at the 1908 London Olympics. The Adelaide University Lacrosse Club was founded in 1889 by future Nobel laureate William Henry Bragg and is one of the oldest in Australia. It is long-time rivals with the Melbourne University Lacrosse Club. Following the 1895 establishment of the Adelaide University Union, the student association, the three clubs co-founded the Adelaide University Sports Association in 1896. Additional sports clubs such as the Adelaide University Football Club were established throughout the 20th century. The sports association was administered by the student union for over 100 years before becoming directly affiliated with the university in 2010. However, demand for residential college accommodation led to the establishment of private colleges affiliated to the university. It was developed by some former residents of the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge among others with the goal of developing a similar collegiate lifestyle. It later expanded to surrounding sites and became co-residential in 1975. The college's honorary founder is politician Josiah Symon who in 1924 suggested that female students at the university should have somewhere to live. Originally established as a men's college, it became co-residential in 1973. It features several heritage-listed buildings. There are also other private student accommodation providers in the city centre and in suburban Adelaide. The university also manages the University Village, Mattanya Student Residences and the Roseworthy Residential College. Former colleges Kathleen Lumley College was a postgraduate college founded by the university in 1965. It closed in 2022 following a drop in overseas students during the COVID-19 pandemic. ==Notable people==

The University of Adelaide's alumni also includes students from past mergers including the Roseworthy Agricultural College and the City campus of the former South Australian College of Advanced Education (including its predecessors the Adelaide Teachers College and the Adelaide College of Advanced Education). File:Julia Gillard 2010.jpg|alt=Julia Gillard was the first female Prime Minister of Australia.|Julia GillardFirst female Prime Minister of Australia File:Astronaut Andy Thomas.jpg|alt=Andy Thomas was the first Australian-born astronaut.|Andy ThomasAerospace engineer and first Australian-born astronaut File:Julie Bishop 2014.jpg|alt=Julie Bishop was the female Minister for Foreign Affairs of Australia.|Julie BishopFirst female Minister for Foreign Affairs of Australia File:Tony Tan Keng Yam cropp.jpg|alt=Tony Tan was the 7th President of the Republic of Singapore.|Tony Tan7th President of the Republic of Singapore File:Penny Wong DFAT official (cropped).jpg|alt=Penny Wong is the current Minister for Foreign Affairs and federal senate leader.|Penny Wong5th President of the Republic of Singapore File:Roma Mitchell 1965.jpg|alt=Roma Mitchell was the first female Australian judge, chancellor and state governor.|Roma MitchellFirst female Australian judge, chancellor and state governor File:Laura Margaret Hope.jpeg|alt=Laura Margaret Hope was the first female surgeon in Australia.|Laura Margaret HopeFirst female surgeon in Australia File:Sir Mark Oliphant.jpg|alt=Mark Oliphant was the first demonstrator of nuclear fission.|Mark OliphantNuclear physicist and humanitarian File:Tirana Hassan - Human Rights Watch 2023 World Report - London.jpg|alt=Tirana Hassan is the eecutive director of Human Rights Watch.|Tirana HassanExecutive director of Human Rights Watch File:Don Dunstan 1968 crop.jpg|alt=Don Dustan was the 35th Premier of South Australia.|Don DustanFormer Premier of South Australia File:Guy Sebastian - 2013 Get Along.jpg|alt=Guy Sebastian is a singer-songwriter and musician.|Guy SebastianSinger-songwriter and musician File:Lionel Logue 1937.jpg|alt=Lionel Logue was a speech and language therapist.|Lionel LogueSpeech and language therapist File:120411 - Matthew Cowdrey - 3b - 2012 Team processing.jpg|alt=Matthew Cowdrey is a Paralympian and state politician.|Matthew CowdreyParalympian and state politician File:Sir Edward Holden.jpeg|alt=Edward Holden was an industrialist and founder of GM Holden.|Edward HoldenIndustrialist and founder of GM Holden The university has had a significant impact on the public life of South Australia, having educated many of the state's earliest businesspeople, lawyers, medical professionals and politicians. 168 Fulbright scholars and is associated with five Nobel laureates which constitute one-third of Australia's total Nobel laureates. The university throughout its history has been associated with 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. and Neil Weste whose advancements in wireless communications are widely used. Several Olympians and Paralympians have also studied at the university including Matthew Cowdrey. state governor Frances Adamson, the Human Rights Watch executive director Tirana Hassan, the Australian National University chancellor Julie Bishop and several federal cabinet ministers. Women's education , Australia's first BSc graduate Following a royal charter granted by Queen Victoria in 1881, the university became the second university in the English-speaking world to formally admit women to degree-conferring programs on equal terms as men, contributing to a number of firsts in the history of women's education in Australia. The university also graduated Australia's first female surgeon Laura Margaret Fowler in 1891. Ruby Claudia Davy was the first Australian woman to receive a doctorate in music in 1918. Other notable firsts also include Winifred Kiek, Margaret Reid and Janine Haines. In 1914, the university was also the first to elect a woman, Helen Mayo, to a university council in Australia. It is also the alma mater of Roma Mitchell who was Australia's first female judge, the first woman to be a Queen's Counsel, a chancellor of an Australian university and the governor of an Australian state. Australia's first female prime minister Julia Gillard had also studied at the university and the first Aboriginal Rhodes Scholar Rebecca Richards in 2010. Nobel laureates Nobel laureates associated with the university include alumni Lawrence Bragg, who held the record for the youngest laureate ever until 2014, co-recipient with his father William Henry Bragg for their work in x-ray crystallography in 1915. 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. J. M. Coetzee, a novelist and member of the faculty, had won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2003. Robin Warren was a pathologist who, alongside Barry Marshall, discovered that peptic ulcers were largely caused by the infection Helicobacter pylori, graduated from the university in 1961. Warren and Marshall won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their discovery in 2005. == Controversies ==

University merger Initial merger discussions The University of Adelaide and the University of South Australia had previously engaged to discuss a merger in 2018 but failed due to disagreements from the latter about the post-merger leadership structure. In addition, the state government has been accused of coercing the universities to agree to merge, indicating that a commission of inquiry would be established to find ways to compel the two universities to merge had their councils refused to do so, with less financial support available. Andrew Miller, the state secretary of the union, raised concerns that staff were under "extreme psychosocial pressure" to meet the 2026 launch deadline. Backing his claims with communications from the Integration Management Office staff responsible for merging the two institutions, he added that the "Game of Thrones" perception among staff competing "for the final spots of the new Adelaide University" was causing tensions, breakdowns and disharmony. though they had previously admitted that the "two-by-two approach across the board" was "not as linear as first conceived". It added concerns from staff that the merger would result in a "meat grinder producing poorly educated students" that would be seen as "walking dollar signs". Land re-development campus will be sold for development 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. The land sales account for the entirety of the Magill campus and approximately 50% of the Mawson Lakes campus. Later in the week, the Independent Commissioner Against Corruption (ICAC) confirmed he was investigating allegations of improper conduct by the vice-chancellor of the University of Adelaide. Rathjen, accused of engaging in "a personal relationship with a staff member", was succeeded by acting vice-chancellor Mike Brooks. Rathjen formally resigned in July 2020, "due to ill health". In August 2020, the ICAC found that Rathjen had committed "serious misconduct" by sexually harassing two University of Adelaide colleagues, had lied to the then-chancellor Kevin Scarce, and also lied to the Commissioner in his evidence with respect to an investigation of sexual misconduct with a postgraduate student when he was employed at the University of Melbourne. The ICAC Commissioner Bruce Lander acknowledged there were "further issues" in the full 170-page report on the investigation which he chose not to release due to privacy concerns surrounding the victims, instead releasing an abridged 12-page version 'Statement about an Investigation: Misconduct by the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Adelaide'. In determining his findings, the Commissioner relied in part on the personal blog of US journalist Michael Balter, who documented Rathjens prior history of sexual harassment, and was largely responsible for bringing the matter to the public's attention, and ultimately ICAC's. Claiming ill-health, Rathjen formally resigned in July 2020 and, despite the ICAC Commissioner's findings, received a large payout from the university. == Gallery ==

File:Barr Smith library entrance.jpg|Barr Smith Library File:Adelaideunientrance.jpg|University buildings File:Australia & New Zealand.jpg|Bonython Hall during sunset File:Bonython Hall Entrance HDR (8254194868).jpg|Entrance to Bonython Hall File:Mitchell Building, Adelaide - HDR (5342498260).jpg|Statue of Walter Hughes File:J150W-statue-Elder-in-situ.jpg|Elder Conservatorium File:Adelaide SA 5000, Australia - panoramio - Matthew Summerton (3).jpg|SA State Library File:University Bridge, Adelaide, East view 20230207.jpg|Adelaide University Footbridge File:Adelaide SA 5000, Australia - panoramio - Matthew Summerton (1).jpg|Mitchell Building File:Students at the University of Adelaide.jpg|Courtyard with students File:Across the Torrens.jpg|View across the River Torrens File:The University of Adelaide and Barr Smith Library.jpg|View across Barr Smith Library File:Shaded Courtyard.jpg|Shaded courtyard File:Barr Smith Reading Room Ceiling.jpg|Barr Smith Library ceiling File:Barr Smith Library.jpg|University shield near library File:NorthTerrace.jpg|Bonython Hall during winter == Tram stop ==

The university is served by two stops on the Glenelg tram line, University and City West, which connects the main campus on the east with the Adelaide Health and Medical Sciences Building on the west end of North Terrace. {{Adjacent stations == See also ==