University of Queensland Gatton Campus (Queensland University)

The picturesque University of Queensland Gatton Campus is located in the heart of the Lockyer Valley. The Gatton campus was established in 1897 as the Queensland Agricultural College, a tertiary institution offering basic agricultural education for men. The initial building scheme included seven buildings linked by elevated, covered walkways. The design reflected Queensland’s timber rural vernacular architecture. Interestingly, the Gatton site was chosen for its various soil types, providing opportunities for experimentation and cultivation. The college was formally opened by the Governor Lord Lamington, on 9 July 1897, with an initial intake of 23 students. In 1922, the college was re-structured as the Gatton Agricultural High School and College, and from 1927 it accommodated students from the University of Queensland (UQ) for a year of practical experience. During WWII, the College was used as a field hospital by the United States Army. After the war, it operated as both a secondary and tertiary institution. The secondary section was closed in 1962, leaving a tertiary institution with 900 students. The first female students enrolled in 1969. In the 1960s a wide diversification of courses occurred and the college experience a boom construction period. In 1990, the College merged with UQ.