With its early buildings erected at the same time as those of the Victorian parliament, the University of Melbourne was raised when its namesake was a frontier town and the first classes offered were attended by just 16 students. Lively, shrewd, and erudite, this history explores the evolution of the campus site, the tensions and achievements of the academicians it employed, and the variety of students who studied there. The subtlety of storytelling and the reverence for the university imbue this tribute with a respect for how the university has offered a critical perspective on the increasing complexity of Australian Society.