The 1960s was a time of transformation in Australia. This decade saw the children of the post-war era reach maturity, and they began casting off the restrictive ideals of their parent's more conservative generation. Waves of protests began against conscription in the Vietnam War, as well as campaigns for equality of women, fairer wages, and the and the rights of Indigenous Australians. Television and radio shortened the 'tyranny of distance' for Australians and the people emulated the latest fashions, fads and fancies of their European and United States counterparts.

This was also a decade of dramatic transformations for the University. Most significant of these was the move to Sandy Bay from 1959-1962. The University was also transformed by The Murry Report in 1957, which led to a large increase in funding during the 1960s and the establishment of two important fields of study – Agriculture and Medicine.

The period from 1955-66 also saw the departure the Chancellor, Vice Chancellor, Registrar and 6 senior academics,  thus the generation of academic leaders from the Domain campus were succeeded by a new generation focusing on the new University at Sandy Bay.