Step back in time with UniSA’s time capsule
The University of South Australia is calling on the public to contribute to a time capsule project ahead of its merger with the University of Adelaide.
The “people’s history” includes items depicting everything from Aussie rock icon Jimmy Barnes being taught the Star Trek Vulcan salute when he received an honorary doctorate to a 3D render from the 1990s of UniSA’s rising City West campus.
Among the other moments captured by the project are former Prime Minister Bob Hawke visiting the official opening of the Hawke Building, civil rights activist and former South African president Nelson Mandela receiving an honorary doctorate in 1998, and Port Adelaide legend Gavin Wanganeen at the launch of the Gavin Wanganeen Aboriginal Scholarship in 2005.
So far, nearly 400 “quirky” photos, videos and documents from across the institution’s 150-year history have been added to the time capsule, depicting teaching, learning, research, campus activities and more.
UniSA was established in 1991 as a merger between the South Australian Colleges of Advanced Education and the Institute of Technology, with antecedent institutions including the South Australian School of Art, a Teacher Training College and the School of Mines and Industries.
Distinguished professor Marnie Hughes-Warrington AO, who is UniSA’s acting vice chancellor, encouraged anyone with a connection to the university to take part, whether they be staff, students, alumni or community members.
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“I’m challenging the community to dig deep in their bottom drawers and storage boxes, seek out those outdated mugs, shirts, and hats that I know are out there,” she said.
“We’ve created this project to help our community tell the UniSA story as it relates to them. This is not a formal history of the University, nor a repository for formal University records, it’s a people’s history.
“History is all around us – it’s what we wear, it’s what we carry around. There’s nothing too small that isn’t important in our own stories and the story of UniSA, so we’re absolutely delighted that our community is embracing this project and sharing their own pieces of history.”
UniSA will continue to collect pieces until the end of 2025, with those interested in taking part encouraged to visit the Time Capsule website.
