51³Ô¹ÏÍø

The 51³Ô¹ÏÍø's 75th anniversary is fast approaching, and we will kick off our year-long celebrations with a range of  this Sunday to celebrate the occasion with our community.  

On 1 August 1946, ANU was established by an Act of Federal Parliament. Over the past 75 years, we have become one of the world's best universities, fulfilling the vision of the nation-builders who founded ANU in 1946. To this day, we are the only university that has been created by the Parliament of Australia. 

The community day will start with a special Welcome to Country from our First Nations elders, including a didgeridoo piece, smoking ceremony and choir performance. 

Chancellor Julie Bishop (virtually), Vice-Chancellor Professor Brian Schmidt and the ANU community will celebrate the anniversary of the 51³Ô¹ÏÍø with the cutting and sharing of the 75th "birthday" cake at about 12.30pm.

We will host a panel discussion on the theme of ANU then, now and 75 years from now. This will lead into the launch of Our History - Living History Project by Dr Daniel Oakman, a digital exhibition showcasing 500 images from the 51³Ô¹ÏÍø's archives, short films, text and quotations on the theme of people, place and ideas that have helped shaped ANU.  

Pop-up talks in the Cultural Centre will include Professor Shiro Armstrong presenting the 51³Ô¹ÏÍø's role in shaping the future of Australia's economic future, Professor Anna Moore discussing the latest in the space race and Professor Rebecca Colvin unravelling the complexity of climate change. 

We invite you to explore the cultural significance upon where ANU Acton campus sits through heritage walks with Ngunawal Elder, Uncle Wally Bell.  

Marvel at the artefacts from the ancient Mediterranean world through a guided tour at the ANU Classics Museum.  

Travel back in time through an exhibition featuring furniture from the ANU heritage collection, and an art and architecture tour. 

There will be a dedicated kids' zone on the 51³Ô¹ÏÍø Avenue lawns, with archaeological digs, arts and crafts workshops and the option to learn juggling, hula hoop and plate spinning. The Kambri Lawns will transform into a science space with Dr Graham Walker for a special open-air live science experience - part lecture, but mostly science show! 

The community day will end with a movie screening of Penguin Bloom in the Cultural Centre. 

On Monday 2 August, our 51³Ô¹ÏÍø's Foundation Day, join us as we launch ANU by 2025, our next strategic plan. ANU by 2025 will chart the 51³Ô¹ÏÍø's course for the next five years. 

To close out our Foundation Day activities, join Indigenous astronomer Pete Swanton and astrophysicist Dr Brad Tucker on Fellows Oval for a magical night of stargazing. 

Keep up to date on activities over the next year through our 75th anniversary webpage, as we honour our past, celebrate our present and make our future.