About us

Location	Toowoomba, Australia	Funding Type	Public
No of Students	27563	Establishment	University
Founded In	1967	Estimated Cost of Living	24505 AUD
Address	487-535 West Street Toowoomba Qld 4350 Australia

In fifty years we have become a prominent multi-campus teaching and research institution providing education worldwide.

Woven into the fabric of UniSQ is the vision and determination of many University and community members who, over the years, have contributed to the expansion and growth of the University. 

The UniSQ Historical Archives play an important role in preserving the history and memory of the University. Members of the public are welcome to view the various exhibitions and displays available. 

Established as part of UniSQ’s 40th anniversary celebrations, the primary collection includes publications, historical papers, memorabilia and old technology items in various formats relating to the growth and development of the institution through its various phases:

Queensland Institute of Technology (Darling Downs) (1967-1971)
Darling Downs Institute of Advanced Education (1971-1989)
University College of Southern Queensland (1990-1991) 
University of Southern Queensland (1992-present). 

A collection of the 'official records' of the University, including the minutes, agendas and associated papers for its various governance, management and advisory committees from their establishment.

A collection of oral histories, film and photographs, which track developments from the founding of the Darling Downs University Establishment Association in 1960 to the present. Archival film of many events, lectures and occasions held by the University since 1982, are preserved in video and digital format.

At UniSQ, we're fostering a values driven culture - one that is built around relationships and community, mutual respect, diversity and inclusion, and a strong commitment to ethics and integrity, collaboration, creativity and innovation. 

We believe that every individual has a role to play in bringing our values to life. Our people live out the UniSQ values every day through the positive, supportive and meaningful relationships they create with their peers, students and the community.

History

At the age of 26, Dellys Kelly was working as a manager at East Greenmount. In 1958, with a bought map, she drove to Canberra to start her campaign for a new university in Toowoomba. After driving to the Parliament House and asking to meet with Prime Minister Robert Menzies, she was challenged by him to raise £30,000 before he would discuss the issue. She received strong support from the community, and after eleven weeks, the money was raised. In 1960, the Darling Downs University Establishment Association was founded.

Overview

The University of Southern Queensland (USQ) is a medium-sized, regional university based in Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia, with three university campuses at Toowoomba, Springfield, and Ipswich. It offers courses in law, health, engineering, the sciences, business, education, and the arts.

The institution was established in 1967 as the Darling Downs campus of the Queensland Institute of Technology. In 1970, the institution had provided studying programs for rural Queensland and international communities. In 1971, it became the Darling Downs Institute of Advanced Education, then the University College of Southern Queensland in 1990, and finally the University of Southern Queensland in 1992. It operates three research institutes and seven research centers that focus on a wide range of business, agricultural, scientific, environmental, and technological issues.

The university is recognized for having the largest Japanese-designed garden in Australia, Australia's largest solar integrated carpark, and a library with rainforest and water features. In 2017, the university won the international Green Gown award for its approach to sustainability focusing on renewable energy, waste reduction, water retention, and integration of sustainability into strategic planning.

In 2012, the university's archaeologists discovered the Australian oldest rock art of 28,000 years old in the shelter of the Australian Northern Territory, and in 2018, the university's astronomers discovered a new planet that orbits an ancient star almost 2 billion years older than the sun.

The university is recognized for its efforts in preventing violence against women and cited as an employer of choice for gender equality by the Federal Government's Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA)