The University of Melbourne colloquially known as Melbourne University is a public research university located in Melbourne , Australia. Founded in , it is Australia's second oldest university and the oldest in Victoria.
Since , many independent residential colleges have become affiliated with the university, providing accommodation for students and faculty, and academic, sporting and cultural programs. There are nine colleges and five university-owned halls of residence located on the main campus and in nearby suburbs.
Four Australian prime ministers and five governors-general have graduated from the University of Melbourne. Nine Nobel Laureates have taught, studied and researched at the University of Melbourne, the most of any Australian university.
A law school was established in at the Parkville campus, following which a Faculty of Engineering and School of Medicine were established in and respectively. The university's residential colleges were first opened on the northern aspect of the campus in , divided between the four main Christian denominations.
The first chancellor, Redmond Barry later Sir Redmond , held the position until his death in The inauguration of the university was made possible by the wealth resulting from Victoria's gold rush.
