7 March 1966   Flinders University

The first academic year at Flinders University began on 7 March 1966 with the enrolments of 382 first year under graduates and 35 graduate students. 

In the late 1950s it became apparent that the University of Adelaide was reaching its absolute capacity at North Terrace. In 1961 the government of South Australia decided to make some 370 acres of land available at Bedford Park for the establishment of a new university which would be known as the University of Adelaide at Bedford Park. Construction work began in October 1963 and the first staff were appointed. Towards the end of 1965 the Government decided that the institution should be a fully autonomous university under the name The Flinders University of South Australia. The first Chancellor was Emeritus Professor Sir Mark Mitchell and the Vice-Chancellor was Professor R.H. Karmel who had been responsible for the development of Bedford Park from its inception. The University was officially opened by Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, on 25 March 1966.

South Australian Year Book, 1967, pp. 163-168.