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It was a university built on the back of a vision to ‘advance the wealth and prosperity of the people' and to solve pressing agricultural and other problems by means of ground-breaking research.

As history now shows, The University of Western Australia has delivered on that bold promise time and time again in the 100 years since it was made.

The pivotal role UWA has played in the State's development since 1913 - from the pioneering research it has consistently produced to the luminaries who have emerged from its faculties of science, law, the arts and others - is captured in Seeking Wisdom: A Centenary History of The University of Western Australia .

The richly illustrated book - an extensive rendering of the University's first century featuring black and white photos on almost every page as well as a colour photo insert - will be launched on February 10 during a special UWA Alumni Weekend, which starts tomorrow with LUMINOUSnight.

The book's 470 pages canvass the University's physical and academic development, and highlight the rich history of student life over the past century.  Covering everything from politics and protests to an inventive and at times controversial catalogue of pranks, the chapter Constructing the Student Experience makes for revealing and often funny reading.  It also records tumultuous periods of student activism over issues including the Vietnam War, Aboriginal rights, the White Australia Policy, capital punishment, gender politics, student unionism and drugs.

Seeking Wisdom - published by UWA Publishing and edited by Winthrop Professor of History Jenny Gregory, with former Director of the Centre for Western Australian History at UWA, Jean Chetkovich - is a multi-authored collection featuring the research and writing of prominent historians and other academics.

Using a thematic approach and building on the work of Fred Alexander and Brian de Garis in earlier UWA histories, it provides a historical overview as well as detailed analysis of major aspects of the University's history, including UWA's ongoing engagement with and contribution to the community.

Part One looks inward at key themes common to the internal life of the University, while Part Two looks outward, focusing on UWA's community impact at local, national and international levels.

Seeking Wisdom ($65) will be available from the Co-op and other bookshops and will be launched during a free event at Whitfeld Court, UWA, at 10:00am on Sunday 10 February.  Bookings are essential.

Review copies, extracts, interviews and images can be obtained from Kiri Falls of UWA Publishing on (+61 8) 6488 6806 or (+61 4) 28 136 847.

Alumni Weekend programs and booking forms can be downloaded here .

Media references

Winthrop Professor Jenny Gregory (Centre for Western Australian History)  (+61 8)  6488 2134
Michael Sinclair-Jones (UWA Public Affairs)  (+61 8)  6488 3229  /  (+61 4) 00 700 783