The University
Establishment
On 22 January 1853 royal assent was given to an Act of the Parliament of the Colony of Victoria entitled An Act to incorporate and endow the University of Melbourne (16 Victoria 34). Pursuant to that Act, the Council of the University was constituted on 11 April 1853, marking the establishment of the University.
The foundation stone of the University was laid in July 1854. Classes commenced at the University on 13 April 1855, following the arrival in Victoria of the first four professors earlier that year.
Melbourne University Act
The University is now governed by the University of Melbourne Act 2009 (Victoria). Section 4 of the Act provides that the University 'shall be a body politic and corporate by the name of "The University of Melbourne"'. The University may only act and function in the manner permitted by the Act. The University may, therefore, only accept gifts which are for the purposes of the University as specified by the Act.
Objects of the University
The objects of the University are set out in section 5 of the University of Melbourne Act 2009 (Victoria), which provides:
'Section 5 Objects of the University
The objects of the University include—
(a) to provide and maintain a teaching and learning environment of excellent quality offering higher education at an international standard; (b) to provide vocational education and training, further education and other forms of education determined by the University to support and complement the provision of higher education by the University; (c) to undertake scholarship, pure and applied research, invention, innovation, education and consultancy of international standing and to apply those matters to the advancement of knowledge and to the benefit of the well-being of the Victorian, Australian and international communities; (d) to equip graduates of the University to excel in their chosen careers and to contribute to the life of the community; (e) to serve the Victorian, Australian and international communities and the public interest by —
(i) enriching cultural and community life; (ii) elevating public awareness of educational, scientific and artistic developments; (iii) promoting critical and free enquiry, informed intellectual discourse and public debate within the University and in the wider society; (f) to use its expertise and resources to involve Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people of Australia in its learning, reserach and advancement of knowledge activities and thereby contribute to —
(i) realising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander aspirations; and (ii) the safeguarding of the ancient and rich Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural heritage ; (g) to provide programs and services in a away that reflects principles of equity and social justice; (h) to confer degrees and grant other awards.' (i) to utilise or exploit its expertise and resources, whether commercially or otherwise.
Entity details
The correct name of the University is 'The University of Melbourne'.
The University is a body politic and corporate, by virtue of section 4 of the University of Melbourne Act 2009 (Victoria).
The University's Australian Business Number ('ABN') is 84 002 705 224.
The University's physical location is described as 'Grattan Street, Parkville, Victoria'.
If required, the postal address of the University is described as 'The University of Melbourne, Victoria, 3010'. (The postcode '3010' is a dedicated postcode, meaning that all mail addressed to it is delivered to the University)
Deductible gift recipient
The Australian Taxation Office has endorsed the University as a deductible gift recipient ('DGR') under Subdivision 30-BA of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 (Commonwealth), as a public university (see item 2.1.1 in subdivision 30-B, and item 1 of the table in section 30-15), with effect from 1 July 2000.
The University cannot advise a donor regarding whether a particular gift to the University made during the donor's lifetime will be tax-deductible.
Before making any gift to the University, a donor should seek independent taxation advice from an accountant regarding the proposed gift, including advice regarding whether that gift or the value of that gift that will be tax-deductible.
Tax concession charity
The Australian Taxation Office has endorsed the University as a tax concession charity to access:
- the income tax exemption under subdivision 50-B of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 (Commonwealth), as a charitable institution, with effect from 1 July 2000; and
- GST concessions under division 176 of the A New Tax System (Goods and Services Tax) Act 1999 (Commonwealth), as a charitable institution, with effect from 1 July 2005.
While estate duty (Commonwealth) and probate duty (Victoria) have long been abolished, the following details are relevant to those trusts created before the abolition of those duties:
Federal estate duty
Federal (Commonwealth) estate duty is not assessable or payable on a gift to the University: see section 8(5) of the Estate Duty Assessment Act 1914 (Commonwealth).
State probate duty
A gift to the University is allowable as a deduction for the purposes of the Probate Duty Act 1962 (Victoria): see sections 21(1) and 21(3)(h) of that Act.