AGY-3484 | University of Newcastle

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The University of Newcastle was established by the University of Newcastle Act, 1964, which commenced on 1 January 1965. (1) The University was the autonomous successor to the Newcastle University College, which had been a dependency of the University of New South Wales. (2)

The functions of the University included (a) the provision of educational facilities at university standard for persons enrolled therein; and (b) the conferring and awarding of degrees and diplomas. (3)

A Council of the University was established which could exercise and discharge the powers, authorities, duties and functions conferred and imposed upon the Council by or under the Act. The first members of the Council were the persons who immediately before the commencement of the Act held office as members of the Newcastle University College Council. The first new council assumed office on the 15 July 1966. (4)

The University of Newcastle expanded its education services and, in 1978, the medical program accepted its first students. (5)

The Act of 1964 was subsequently superseded by the University of Newcastle Act, 1989 on 23 May 1989. (6)

The functions of the University changed to include:
(a) the provision of educational facilities (including facilities for education for professional and other occupations) appropriate to a university for students from within Australia and overseas, having particular regard to the needs of the Hunter region, the Central Coast and surrounding areas;
(b) the advancement and transmission of knowledge by the pursuit, recognition and achievement of excellence in scholarship, research and teaching;
(c) the commitment to the development and provision of cultural, professional, technical and vocational services to the community; and
(d) the conferring of the degrees of Bachelor, Master and Doctor and the awarding of diplomas and other certificates.(7)

The Hunter Institute of Higher Education and the Conservatorium of Music (Newcastle Branch) were amalgamated with the University under the Higher Education (Amalgamation) Act, 1989, effective from 1 November 1989. (8) The amalgamation operated through nine schools: Administration and Technology; Economics and information Sciences; Education; Engineering and Architecture; Health; Humanities; Science and Mathematics; and Visual & Performing Arts. (9)

The University took its final step to a full complement of disciplines when it opened the Newcastle Law School in 1992. (10)

On 6 September 2012, amendments to the Act changed the Council to meet new standard governing body provisions (set out in the Universities Governing Bodies Act 2011). This changed the Council to consist of 11 to 22 members and include official members, elected members, Council appointed members and Ministerially appointed members. (11)

In 2000, the University operated with 12 Faculties, including Architecture, Building and Design; Arts and Social Science; Economics and Commerce; Education; Engineering; Law; Medicine and Health Sciences; Music; Nursing; Science and Mathematics, and The University of Newcastle Graduate School. (12)

In 2016, the University operated with five consolidated faculties - Business and Law, Education and Arts, Engineering and Built Environment, Health and Medicine and Science, and Information Technology.(13)

By 2021, the University's five Faculties were consolidated into three Colleges: College of Human and Social Futures; College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing; and College of Engineering, Science and Environment. (14)

Endnotes
1. NSW Government Gazette No.147, 24 December 1964, p.4188.
2. University of New South Wales, Records and Archives - University Timeline, https://www.recordkeeping.unsw.edu.au/university-archives/online-exhibitions/university-timeline-exhibition/1949-1959 (accessed 24 November 2022).
3. The University of Newcastle Act, 1964 (No.72, 1964), s.4.
4. Ibid. s.8; NSW Government Gazette (No.70, 1966), p.2788, 15 July 1966.
5. University of Newcastle website, Our Uni - History, https://www.newcastle.edu.au/our-uni/history (accessed 24 November 2022).
6. NSW Government Gazette No.72, 9 June 1989, p.3402.
7. University of Newcastle Act 1989 (No. 68, 1989), s.6.
8. Higher Education (Amalgamation) Act 1989 (No 65, 1989), s.8, s.11.
9. University of Newcastle, UniNews No. 14, April 1990, p. 3, ISSN 1032-2272.
10. University of Newcastle website, Our Uni- History, https://www.newcastle.edu.au/our-uni/history (accessed 24 November 2022).
11. Universities Governing Bodies (University of Newcastle) Order 2012 (No.447).
12. University of Newcastle, Annual Report 2000, p.11.
13. University of Newcastle, Annual Report 2016, p.6.
14. University of Newcastle, Annual Report 2021, p.141.