The University of Adelaide's importance to South Australia - and beyond - began in 1874. Founded on the basis of generous donations from Walter Watson Hughes and Thomas Elder, we are the third-oldest university in Australia and have always been a progressive, outward-looking institution. For well over a century, our graduates, teachers and researchers have been making outstanding contributions to a number of fields. These range from science, medicine and engineering, to law, the social sciences and performing arts. It means we have played a vital role in contributing to the economic, social and intellectual life of our State for more than 130 years.