
A brief history
The roots of the University of New South Wales (UNSW) can be traced back to the founding of the Sydney Mechanics’ School of Arts in 1833 and the Sydney Technical College in 1878. These institutions emerged in response to the growing demand for skills in emerging technologies, as the economy of New South Wales transitioned from agriculture to industrialization. Recognizing the need for a specialized university to educate engineers and technology professionals in larger numbers, the post-war Labor government of New South Wales established UNSW in 1949. The university’s primary focus was on imparting knowledge in scientific, technological, and professional fields.