AGY-6848 | New South Wales University of Technology (1948-1958) / University of New South Wales (1958- )

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On 8 July 1947 the NSW Government appointed a Development Council (under the chairmanship of the Minister for Education, the Hon R.J. Heffron, MLA) to establish the New South Wales University of Technology. The purpose of the University was to train scientists and technologists to meet the needs of the expanding economy. The Council met 18 times between 27 August 1947 and 26 May 1949 to make arrangements for the foundation of the University. (1)

The major role of the Development Council had been the preparation of a bill for an Act which passed though the parliamentary process in 1949. The Council had identified two unique features of the new University courses - some humanities component would be included, and practical industrial training would be a requirement. Premises of the Department of Technical Education were utilised until a site and buildings for the university were available.

The first-degree courses in Civil, Electrical, Mechanical and Mining Engineering commenced in March 1948 and, a year later, degree courses in Applied Chemistry and Chemical Engineering and a post-graduate course in Electronic Engineering commenced. (2)

These courses pre-dated the formal constitution of the University by the Technical Education and University of Technology Act 1949, which was proclaimed to commence on 1 July 1949 (3).

The Act constituted the University as a body corporate, and consisting "of the Council, the professors and other such classes of persons giving instruction within the University as may be prescribed and the graduate and under-graduate members thereof". (4)

The objects of the University were:
(a) to provide facilities for higher specialised instruction and advanced training in the various branches of technology and science and in their application to industry and commerce; and
(b) to aid by research and other suitable means the advancement, development and practical application of science to industry and commerce. (5)

The University was managed by a Council of up to 30 members. (6) The members of the Council were appointed by the Governor for periods of up to four years. The Council included representatives of both houses of State parliament, the public service, the professions, industrial and commercial interests, trade unions, the University of Sydney, the graduates and undergraduates of the university, the university staff, and the faculties. The Director of the University was an ex-officio member of the Council. The Council was responsible for the provision of courses leading to the degrees of Bachelor, Master and Doctor in the fields of applied science, engineering, technology, commerce, industrial organisation and related fields, the appointment of staff, the 'entire control and management of the affairs, concerns and property of the University and to act in all matters concerning the University in such a manner as appears best calculated to promote the objects and interests of the University'. (7)

The Council had the power to confer honorary degrees (8) and to establish branches, departments or colleges at Newcastle, Wollongong, Broken Hill or elsewhere, (9) and to undertake and publish the results of research. (10)

By 1951, the University offered nine undergraduate courses: Applied Chemistry, Applied Physics, Architecture, Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Mining Engineering and Wool technology. Courses were located in Sydney, Newcastle, Wollongong, Broken Hill and Lithgow, which, from February 1951, the University had been administering on behalf of the Department of Technical Education. (11)

Its university colleges at Newcastle and Wollongong, established in December 1951 (12) and November 1961 (13), subsequently became independent universities.

The Council was appointed on 5 July 1949 (14) and held its inaugural meeting the following day (15). The first by-laws were adopted on 12 September 1949. (16) Building on the University's site at Kensington commenced in October 1949. (17) Finance was allocated for the building program by the New South Wales University of Technology (Construction) Act 1951. The buildings authorised under the Act included a 3-4 storey permanent brick building to accommodate the schools of Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Mechanical Drawing and Design, Geology and Mineral Engineering together with administrative offices, lecture theatre and cafeteria and 13 steel clad aluminium buildings to accommodate the School of Chemical Engineering, furniture, equipment and services for these buildings, access roads and other necessary site works. (18)

The structure of the Council was altered by the Technical Education and New South Wales University of Technology (Amendment) Act 1955. The Council was increased to a maximum 39 members and the President and Vice President were replaced by the Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor, representatives of rural interests were added to the Council, the number of representatives of the graduates was increased and the Chairman of the Professorial Board became a member ex-officio. (19)

On the 7 October 1958, The University of New South Wales Act 1958 altered the name of the University and added a third object to that of the principal Act. 'c) to provide instruction and carry out research in the disciplines of humane studies and medicine and such other disciplines as the Council may from time to time determine.' (20)

The University of New South Wales Act 1961 increased the Council to 40 members (21) and set in place an annual budget allocation from the NSW Government following the submission of a budget from the University. (22) Existing legislation was consolidated by the University of New South Wales Act 1968 which increased Council membership to 41. (23)

Under the University of New South Wales (Amendment) Act 1970, the single undergraduate Council member was replaced by three elected student members, resulting in an expansion to 43 members, (24) and the University of New South Wales (Amendment) Act 1978 further added to Council membership to include one member elected by the non-academic staff of the university. Under this Act, the University's constitution was altered to transfer responsibilities to the Minister including making nominations to the Council and authorising disposal of real property. (25)

In May 1981, the University of New South Wales (UNSW) signed an agreement with the Commonwealth Government to establish a university college at the Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA) adjacent to the Royal Military College, Duntroon in the ACT. (26) The University had established a Faculty of Military Studies at Duntroon in April 1968. (27) This faculty ceased and its departments transferred to the new university college when it opened in 1986. (28)

The University of New South Wales (Amendment) Act 1985 reconstituted the Council, reducing its membership to 29, (29) and legislation on university governing bodies promulgated during 1989 resulted in the University of New South Wales Act 1989 and a major revision to the composition of the University Council, resulting in a further reduction to 21 members. (30) The new Act commenced on 1 July 1990. (31)

At the same time, structural changes in tertiary education led to the incorporation into UNSW of the St George Institute of Education and the City Art Institute, (32) and its collaboration with the new Charles Sturt University (CSU) in the development of its academic programs, especially those concerned with post-graduate education and research. (33) The arrangement with CSU was for an initial period of six years. (34)

In 1989, the University's academic organisation involved 69 schools and departments grouped under 10 faculties, a University College (the ADFA) and two Boards of Studies. (35)

Subsequent amendments to the Act introduced more flexibility in Council membership and composition, allowing between 11 and 22 members, and broadened the functions to expand commercial activities, support the provision of cultural, sporting, professional, technical and vocational services to the community, and sanction the University exercising its functions in other states and internationally. (36)

In 2014, under the 1989 Act as amended, the object of the University was "the promotion ... of scholarship, research, free inquiry, the interaction of research and teaching, and academic excellence." (37) Its academic organisation included eight faculties, one college and 47 schools. (38)

In 2021, the University's academic organisation involved 47 schools, 53 centres and institutes, one college and six faculties, including: Arts, Design and Architecture; Business; Engineering; Law and Justice; Medicine and Health; and Science. (39)

Endnotes
1. New South Wales University of Technology First annual report of proceedings for the year ended 30 June 1950 pp.1-2 in NSW Parliamentary Papers 1950-51-52 vol.1 p.567.
2. Ibid., p.14.
3. The Technical Education and University of Technology Act 1949 (Act No 11, 1949), s.16; NSW Government Gazette (No.109), 24 June 1949, p.1719.
4. The Technical Education and University of Technology Act 1949 (Act No.11, 1949), s.16.
5. Ibid., s.18.
6. Ibid., s.19.
7. Ibid., s.25.
8. Ibid., s.28.
9. Ibid., s.29.
10. Ibid., s.31.
11. Report of the Council of the New South Wales University of Technology for the year ended 30 June 1951, pp.3, 5 in NSW Parliamentary Papers 1950-51-52 vol.1, p.581.
12. Report of the Council of the New South Wales University of Technology for the year ended 30 June 1952, p.10 in NSW Parliamentary Papers 1953 vol.1 p.561.
13. Report of the Council of the University of New South Wales for the year ended 31 December 1961, p.21 in NSW Parliamentary Papers 1962-63-64 vol.3, p.127.
14. NSW Government Gazette 8 July, 1949 p.1923.
15. New South Wales University of Technology First annual report Op. Cit p.1.
16. NSW Government Gazette 9 December, 1949 p.3673.
17. New South Wales University of Technology First annual report Op. Cit p.8.
18. New South Wales University of Technology (Construction) Act 1951 (Act No. 35, 1951), s.2 and Schedule.
19. Technical Education and New South Wales University of Technology (Amendment) Act 1955 (Act No.8, 1955), s.4.
20. The University of New South Wales Act 1958 (Act No.24, 1958), s.2(c).
21. The University of New South Wales Act 1961 (Act No.49, 1961), s.2(b).
22. Ibid. s.2c(1).
23. University of New South Wales Act 1968 (Act No 37, 1968), s.8.
24. University of New South Wales (Amendment) Act 1970 (Act No.75, 1970), s.3.
25. The University of New South Wales (Amendment) Act 1978 (Act No.170, 1978), sch 1.
26. Report of the Council of the University of New South Wales Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 1981, p.25 in NSW Parliamentary Papers 1982-83 vol.6, p.977.
27. Report of the Council of the University of New South Wales Annual Report for 1968, p.31 in NSW Parliamentary Papers 1968-69 vol.1, p.1129.
28. Report of the Council of the University of New South Wales Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 1985, pp.33, 37 in NSW Parliamentary Papers 1986-87-88 vol.33, No.627.
29. The University of New South Wales (Amendment) Act 1985 (Act No.81, 1985), sch.1.
30. The University of New South Wales Act 1989 (Act No.125, 1989), s.9.
31. NSW Government Gazette No.74, 8 June 1990, p 4591.
32. Annual Report of the Council of the University of New South Wales for the year ended 31 December 1989, p.18 in NSW Parliamentary Papers 1990-91 vol.23, No.323.
33. Charles Sturt University Act 1989 (Act No.76, 1989), s.7(3).
34. Annual Report of the Council of the University of New South Wales for the year ended 31 December 1989, p.19 in NSW Parliamentary Papers 1990-91 vol.23, No.323.
35. Ibid., pp.7, 10-11, 177.
36. Universities Governing Bodies (University of New South Wales) Order 2012, s.8, s. 9.
37. The University of New South Wales Act 1989 (Act No.125, 1989) [as at 26 August 2014], s.6(1).
38. University of New South Wales, Annual Report 2014, pp.6-7.
39. University of New South Wales, Annual Report 2021, p.9.