The timeline
Explore JCU’s rich history, which begins in North Queensland and stretches around the globe. From ground-breaking research and discoveries to milestones in education, JCU is continually growing and forging a brighter future for the Tropics.
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1950
The beginning of a legacy
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1957
A regional university
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1958 12 October
Official news
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1960
Building a strong foundation: From fundraising to official openings and graduations
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1960 February
Fundraising begins
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1960
State Cabinet announcement
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1961 1 January
Dr Frank Olsen
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1961 27 February
Official opening of University College of Townsville
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1962 21 June
A gift of land
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1962 8 December
Dr Ken Back
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1964 2 March
First graduate
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1964 7 November
Breaking ground
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1965
Research station opens
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1966 29 July
Foundation stone
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1966
Foundation for Australian Literary Studies
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1967
Buildings open
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1968
Library foundations
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1969
Eddie Koiki Mabo
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1969 10 December
JCU bill passes
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1970
A royal visit, a cyclone strikes and world-class research paves the way
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1970 20 April
Her Majesty visits
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1970 - September
Super computer arrives
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1970
The start of a 50-year contribution
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1971
Chancellor elect
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1971
Student representation
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1971 December
Cyclone Althea
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1972
Cyclone research
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1972
Open sea
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1972
Coat of arms
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1973
Reef protection
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1973
First JCU graduates
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1974
A new era
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1974
Free university
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1974
Student representation
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1976
Library grows
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1977
Cyclone research
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1977 August
Open to the community
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1978
Lifesaving research
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1978
Classroom in the outback
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1978
Classroom on the reef
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1979
Honorary fellow
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1979
Sad news
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1980
Research goes into uncharted waters while doors open farther north
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1980
First honorary degree
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1980
University teaching centralised
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1981 August
Land rights
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1982
Growing numbers
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1982
Life saving invention
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1983
Protect and Serve
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1983
Marine studies
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1984
Order of Australia
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1985
Looking at Cairns
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1986
25 years in Townsville
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1986
Passing of the torch
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1987
Tropical health
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1987
A wealth of knowledge
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1987
JCU comes to Cairns
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1989
Breaking new ground
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1989
Cairns leadership
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1990
Offerings grow and educational opportunities broaden
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1990
Tourism comes to JCU
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1990
Australian Festival of Chamber Music
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1990
The next generation of nurses
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1990
A new tune
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1992 21 January
Mabo Legacy
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1992
Research excellence
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1992
A new era of graduate
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1992
Breaking new ground
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1993 15 February
Unexpected tragedy
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1993 March
New Chancellor
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1993 April
Leaving a mark
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1993
Art and design
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1994
Distinguished service
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1994
Improving health in PNG
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1994
Order of Australia
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1995
Cairns campus finds a new home
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1996
Change in leadership
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1997
New Vice-Chancellor
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1997
Mount Isa
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1997 December
Legislative naming
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1998
Finding our name
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1998 - 2 May
Professor Martin Nakata
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1998 26 May
National Sorry Day
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1999
New Chancellor
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1999
Pharmacy launches
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1999
Rhodes scholar
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2000
Global recognition, JCU Singapore opens, and Eddie Koiki Mabo remembered
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2000
JCU Medicine comes alive
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2003 August
Global recognition
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2003
International growth
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2003
Thursday Island
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2006 March
JCU grows
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2006
Animal Care
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2007 15 January
New leadership
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2008
Ancestral discovery
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2008 21 May
Reconciliation
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2008 September
JCU Singapore moves
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2008
Herbarium opens
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2009
Oral care
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2010
Frogs to Innovation, via the Daintree Rainforest Observatory and a rugby league legend
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2010
Frog research
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2010
AITHM
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2010
Fresh water
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2011
Oldest dino discovery
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2011
Singapore joins the JCU family
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2011
Outstanding alumni - entrepreneurial expertise
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2011
State-of-the-art facility opens
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2011
Discovery Rise
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2012
Outstanding alumni - humanitarian
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2012
Oral health for the community
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2012
20th anniversary of the historic Mabo Decision
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2013
Cairns Institute established
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2013
Historic hominid fossil discovery
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2013
Reconciliation Action Plan
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2013
Outstanding alumni - reef protector
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2014
Classroom in the rainforest
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2014
TEDx
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2014
Outstanding alumni - Antarctic research
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2014
State of the Tropics
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2015
Chancellor elect
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2015
3D satellite mapping of reefs
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2015
Study in the City
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2015
Outstanding alumni - legal leader
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2015 December
Rugby legend honoured
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2016
Outstanding alumni - Indigenous health advocate
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2016
JCU Singapore
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2016 - 29 June
International Day of the Tropics
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2016
General Practice training for regional and rural communities
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2016
Improving gender equity in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine
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2017
An Australian first at JCU
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2017
Broderick Review
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2017
JCU recognised as No. 1
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2017
A place for science
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2017
Cairns growth
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2017
Outstanding alumni - smart tech
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2017 16 August
Indigenous Education and Research Centre launch
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2018
Living on campus
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2018
JCU Dentistry - No tolerance for Domestic Violence
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2018
Zambian class of 2018
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2018
Outstanding alumni - marine expert
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2019
Innovating
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2020
A celebration!
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2020 January
50 treasures for 50 years
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2020 March
Central Plaza opens
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2020
COVID-19
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2020 April
Chancellor re-elected
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2020 20 April
JCU celebrates 50 years
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2020 April
Student Support
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2020 May
Deputy Chancellor Elect
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2020 June
Mabo footage released for the first time
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2020 June
The Mabo Interpretive Wall opens
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2020 July
JCU Ideas Lab
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2020 August
JCU graduate job success
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2020 October
Heroes in Business
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2020 October
Coral discovery
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2020 December
Indigenous campus naming
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2021 February
Pharmacy expands
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2021 March
Graduations
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2021 April
Icons honoured
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2021 September
Vice Chancellor Elect
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2021 September
JCU’s Thursday Island campus Indigenous name unveiled
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2021 October
Knightly honour for JCU Professor
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2021 November
First DVC Indigenous Education and Strategy
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2021 November
Retirement of distinguished Professor Terry Hughes
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2021 November
JCU Alumni Shine
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2022 February
A new legacy begins
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2022 May
Deputy Chancellor Elect
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2022 May
First Indigenous Supreme Court Judge
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2022 June
Prof Gracelyn Smallwood AM named as a Queensland Great
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2022 June
30th Anniversary of Mabo Decision
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2023 January
Indigenous leader elected as JCU’s next Chancellor
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2023 May
Mackay JCU campuses gifted Indigenous name
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2023 June
Professor Ngiare Brown formally inducted as JCU’s sixth chancellor
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