The University of Wollongong (UOW) was brought into existence by the Parliament of New South Wales in 1975 but the origins of the institute can be traced back to 1951. Back then, a branch of the New South Wales University of Technology was set up in Wollongong. Ten years later, it became the Wollongong College of the University of New South Wales. Then in 1975, the university was given independent institution status. It started by providing technical education for metallurgists and engineers but has now grown to offer a variety of courses.