Deakin’s anniversary draws to a close – sealing a time capsule, Burwood Community Festival and more
On 10 December 2025, Deakin University turned 51! With that milestone, our anniversary year gently comes to a close. From community festivals and graduations to exhibitions, our Deakin student community has been involved every step of the way.
In the past month, we’ve wrapped up our final events and activities to mark our anniversary, including:
Time capsule now sealed
In late November, Vice-Chancellor Professor Iain Martin joined University Archivist Antony Catrice and select contributors to seal Deakin’s anniversary time capsule.
Inside are treasures that capture life at Deakin today, including:
- A zine documenting a student’s university experience
- An Open Day t-shirt with a unique backstory
- Course guides dating back to 1978
- Children’s drawings showing what life looks like in 2025
The capsule brings together contributions from across our campuses, both in Australia and internationally, with input from alumni, current students, and even pre-school children of Deakin staff.
It is now safely stored in Deakin’s archives, ready to be opened in 2074 for our centenary celebrations.
Watch the time capsule’s journey into Archives.
Community festival with a Burwood twist
Last week, our Burwood Community Festival was a joyful finale to our anniversary year.
For one night, the Burwood Campus came alive with families, alumni, staff, and students enjoying rides, face painting, and food trucks. Music, roving entertainers, and a dazzling fireworks show created a once‑in‑a‑generation atmosphere.
Despite the rainy weather, 3,500+ festivalgoers came out to celebrate, with a strong crowd staying right to the end for a dazzling firework show.
It was a reminder of Deakin’s place at the heart of its community, closing our 50th year with colour, connection, and pride for the journey ahead.
Grab a free copy of Deakin’s history book
Are you a history buff or simply proud to be part of Deakin’s story? A new book developed by the University’s Business School offers a compelling look at our evolution, from pioneering distance education and merging with antecedent institutions, to shaping today’s exceptional student experience.
This beautifully curated account features reflections from Business School alumni, including Chancellor John Stanhope, EY Partner Fiona Campbell (BCom ’91), and Sydney Swans CEO Tom Harley (BCom ’07).
Visit the main foyer of your preferred campus corporate centre and take home a piece of Deakin’s history.
- Burwood Corporate Centre: Level 2, Building BCC, 221 Burwood Highway Melbourne 3125
- Deakin Downtown: Level 12, Tower 2, 727 Collins Street Melbourne, 3008
- Geelong Waterfront Corporate Centre: Level 4, Building AD, 1 Gheringhap St, Geelong 3220
- Waurn Ponds Estate Corporate Centre: Nicol Drive South, Waurn Ponds 3216
Thank you for being involved!
A huge thank you to everyone who joined in the celebrations, whether you contributed, volunteered, or simply came along to enjoy the fun.
Here’s to our next 50 years!
The Deakin50 website will stay live through 2026, so you can revisit stories, photos, and highlights. Just note it won’t be updated further.
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