A history of the University of Melbourne from 1850 to 1939. Offering a social, educational and cultural history rather than an institutional one, the author places the university into the society of which it was (and is) a part. The daily life of both staff and students is portrayed.

Telling as much a social, educational, and cultural story as institutional history, this detailed account chronicles the ideological patterns, internal and countrywide conflicts, and student experiences at the University of Melbourne from 1850 to 1939. The daily life of staff, professors, and students are recounted during times of turmoil and peace in Australia, including the depression of the 1890s and World War I. The account offers a window into the pedagogical conflicts and research achievements of one of Australia's oldest continuing educational institutions.