The History of the University of Ballarat

The history of the University of Ballarat dates, through its predecessor institutions (see Chronology below), from 1870 when the School of Mines and Industries Ballarat was founded. This makes it the third oldest tertiary education institution in Australia.

In another sense, we are one of Australia's newer universities, having been declared a University in 1994. In 1998, the University of Ballarat merged with the School of Mines and Industries Ballarat (which had a campus at Ararat as well as in the heart of Ballarat), and with the Horsham-based Wimmera Institute of TAFE, which had a Stawell campus.

Since that time, the University of Ballarat has focused on achieving greater educational benefits for the communities we serve in Central and Western Victoria, as well as other parts of Australia and overseas, and developing strategic strengths closely allied to the needs of the region.

From 2002, the University has co-located all of its visual and performing arts programs (TAFE and Higher Education) at the Camp Street Arts Education precinct. This site, bordered by Sturt, Lydiard, Mair and Camp Streets in Ballarat, dates from 1852 when it was home to the police camp overlooking the goldfields. During the second half of the 19th century, many fine permanent civic buildings were erected including the original police station, court-house, library, post office, mining exchange and art gallery. These re-furbished buildings plus two new ones make up the Camp Street campus and provide a dynamic and vibrant arts and cultural environment for the students of the University and the broader community of Ballarat.

Chronology of the University of Ballarat