Here’s to the moments that made us
For 50 years, Griffith University has been a place where bold ideals, innovation and community have come together to create a brighter future for all.
This timeline celebrates the defining moments, milestones and achievements that have shaped our journey so far. Read on to explore how we grew beyond the bush, on the unceded lands of the Yuggera, Turrbal, Yugarabul and Jagera Peoples, to become an internationally recognised leader in teaching, research and social impact.
Sir Theodor Bray, inaugural chancellor
Sir Theodor Bray chaired Griffith University’s Interim Council and first Council. He was elected first Chancellor of the University in 1975, the same year he was dubbed a Knight Bachelor for service to education.
Ceremony to Commence Teaching held
Attended by then-prime minister Gough Whitlam, then-state premier Sir Johannes (Joh) Bjelke-Petersen and then-state governor Sir Colin Hannah, the Ceremony to Commence Teaching was held at our foundation campus of Brisbane South (Nathan) on 5 March.
First graduation ceremony held
One hundred and seventy students graduated from our four foundation schools with either a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science. Debra Cunningham, from the School of Australian Environmental Studies, was our first bachelor award recipient. We also awarded our first doctorate at this ceremony.
Griffith hosts Commonwealth Games Athletes' Village
Our Nathan campus served as the Games Village for the XII Commonwealth Games, housing more than 2,000 athletes and officials. This marked the beginning of Griffith's strong commitment to sport, with the accommodation later becoming the residential colleges we know today as Barakula, Bellenden Ker, Girraween and Kinaba.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Unit launches
Griffith University launched the Aboriginal Participation Initiative and established the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Unit (ATSIEU), admitting 10 First Peoples students. The initiative provided support through a dedicated coordinator and laid the foundation for the current GUMURRII Student Success Unit.
College of Advanced Education joins Griffith
In 1988, the Australian Government introduced the Unified National System, requiring Colleges of Advanced Education to become universities or merge with existing ones. This led to Griffith University experiencing major expansion, merging with the Mount Gravatt campus of the Brisbane College of Advanced Education on 1 January 1990. Griffith also amalgamated with the Gold Coast College of Advanced Education to form its Gold Coast campus.
Queensland Conservatorium joins Griffith
Originally opened as an independent entity on the 18 February 1957, the Queensland Conservatorium became part of Griffith University on 1 July 1991 as part of Australian Government tertiary education reforms.
Queensland College of Art and Design joins Griffith
The now-Queensland College of Art and Design (QCAD) was established in 1881 as the Brisbane School of Arts. QCAD is the oldest arts institution in Australia and became part of Griffith University on 1 January 1992 as part of national tertiary amalgamations.
First overseas graduation ceremony held
Our first overseas graduation ceremony took place in 1992 in Hong Kong, where graduates received Griffith degrees in business, arts and informatics (computing). By the end of the 1990s, Griffith was holding graduation ceremonies across Asia, including in China, Malaysia, Indonesia and Taiwan. As the 2000s progressed, our international graduations expanded further to include countries such as Sweden and Canada.
Logan campus opens
In late 1994, Griffith University was invited to support the government in planning higher education facilities for the broader Brisbane – Gold Coast corridor, including Logan City. Building on this planning role, the University's then-vice chancellor, Professor Roy Webb, officially announced in late 1995 that Griffith would begin offering classes at a Logan campus in 1998.
Institute for Glycomics established
Griffith's Institute for Glycomics was established at the Gold Coast campus, focusing on glycans and glycan-binding proteins to develop novel drugs and vaccines. Founded by Professor Mark von Itzstein, who also discovered the anti-influenza drug relenza, the Institute’s research targets medical conditions such as cancer, diabetes and infectious diseases. Today, the Institute has evolved into a founding partner of the Institute of Biomedicine and Glycomics.
Insitute for Biomedicine and Glycomics
Ms Leneen Forde, first female chancellor
The Honourable Ms Leneen Forde AC DUniv was elected as the University's fourth chancellor in June 2000. She was the first female Chancellor of the University and the University's longest-serving chancellor, having served in the role for 15 years.
Nathan EcoCentre opens
Griffith's innovative EcoCentre was the first Australian example of "new wave" environmental educational centres established throughout the world.
Innocence Project launches
Griffith University's Innocence Project, one of the first of its kind in Australia, brings together law students, lawyers and academics to help free innocent people wrongfully imprisoned in Australia. Launched with the appointment of the Honourable Tony Fitzgerald as chair of the Advisory Board in 2002, it also educates students on correcting procedural failures in the criminal justice system through an award-winning course.
School of Dentistry established
The University continued to diversify its program offerings by establishing Australia's first new dental school since 1946, introducing three key bachelor degrees in oral health and dental science, with students commencing in 2004.
Griffith Film School opens
The opening of Griffith Film School marked a significant expansion of Griffith’s creative and cultural programs. Its establishment provided students with cutting-edge facilities and opportunities to pursue careers in film, media and digital arts.
Griffith Sports College established
Griffith Sports College plays a vital role in fostering students who are also elite athletes, helping them devote time to training and competition while they complete their tertiary studies.
Conferral of Griffith's first medical students
In December 2008, our first medical doctors (Bachelor of Medicine/Bachelor of Surgery) graduated from our then-School of Medicine. This ceremony would also see our first Indigenous medical student graduate with a MBBS award.
Researchers take first photo of a shadow of an atom
Scientists at the University's Centre for Quantum Dynamics in Brisbane were able to take the first-ever snapshot of an atom's shadow, the smallest ever photographed using visible light.
Griffith Health Centre opens
Opened in July by The Honourable Dame Quentin Bryce AD CVO, the $150 million Griffith Health Centre is now a key facility for Gold Coast health services, housing community clinics alongside world-class teaching and learning spaces.
Griffith commits to UN Sustainable Development Goals
Griffith University has been a leader in sustainability since its founding, driven by an ongoing commitment to the environment and social justice. As a signatory to the United Nations Global Compact, we strengthened this leadership in 2017 by joining the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) to support the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a set of 17 targets to pursue global peace and prosperity.
2018 Commonwealth Games partnership
As an Official Partner of the XXI Commonwealth Games, Griffith University contributed by providing world-class facilities for training and events, with over 500 students, staff, and alumni involved as volunteers, athletes, researchers and specialists. The University also supported the Games through sports science expertise and helped launch the Commonwealth Sports Universities Network to enhance collaboration between sports and higher education globally.
BioSpine project launches
Under co-lead researchers Professor David Lloyd, Dr Claudio Pizzolato and Dr Dinesh Palipana—Queensland's first quadriplegic medical graduate and medical intern—Griffith's BioSpine Project team started breaking new ground in spinal injury rehabilitation. Combining technology and existing devices to personalise spinal injury treatments, the project's researchers work with patients, clinicians and engineers to create effective, accessible tools for clinics and hospitals.
Griffith releases Reconciliation Statement
In May 2022, Griffith launched its Reconciliation Statement—a public declaration of our commitment to promoting an environment where the cultures, knowledge, experiences and perspectives of First Peoples are essential to our educational practices, research initiatives and community involvement. Reconciliation allows us the opportunity to make Griffith a better place to learn, teach, conduct research and work, striving to become a benchmark university that holds social justice and truth-telling at the very heart of everything we do.
Artwork by Sid Domic
Campaign to Create a Brighter Future for All launches
Griffith University launched its first philanthropic campaign, setting an ambitious goal of raising $125 million to allow its research, education and engagement to have an even greater impact and benefit those who need it most.
World-first clinical trial held for treating spinal cord injury
A groundbreaking achievement by Griffith researchers, with a Phase I human clinical trial commencing to test the efficacy and safety of the transplantation of olfactory cell nerve bridges to treat chronic spinal cord injury.
Brisbane CBD campus set to open
The building’s iconic location in the heart of the city will establish a flagship educational presence for Griffith. Our CBD campus will become the new hub for our business, law and information technology disciplines as well as postgraduate and executive education centre, and later Griffith English Language Institute (GELI) and Griffith College.