Thousands celebrate as Deakin turns 50

COMMUNITY members flocked to Deakin University on Friday last week as it marked the beginning of its 50th birthday celebrations.

More than 3,500 staff, students, alumni and the wider Deakin community turned out for the event at the Waurn Ponds campus, which hosted a community festival.

Food trucks, live entertainment and family-friendly activities including a live DJ, face painting, and an animal farm kept festival goers busy throughout the evening.

A fireworks display amazed crowds as it finished off the event.

The community festival marked the first event of a year of celebrations for the university.

As a way of marking the milestone, the university is also sharing a range of anniversary stories on its website, highlighting where its research and education began.

Staff, students, alumni, researchers and partners are encouraged to also share their memories of Deakin and how their past or present connection has made a difference.

Deakin got its start at the Waurn Ponds campus, where the Royal Assent was granted for the university to be established in December 1974.

It was officially opened in 1978 and within its first decade became the first university nursing school to open in Australia.

50 years later, more than 350,000 graduates from 13 schools and four faculties have made their way through Deakin.

The university now has four campuses within Australia including Waurn Ponds, Geelong Waterfront, Warrnambool and Burwood.

For more information, head to 50years.deakin.edu.au