ADMINISTRATIVE HISTORY:
The first twenty-member Council was appointed by the Governor December 11, 1874 under the provisions of the Act of Incorporation no. 20 of 1874. Council was empowered to elect a Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor and vacancies in Council were to be filled by election at Senate Meetings called for that purpose (or, prior to the constitution of the Senate, by nomination of the Governor).

Sir Richard Davies Hanson was elected the first Chancellor and the Right-Reverend Augustus Short, Lord Bishop of Adelaide, was elected Vice-Chancellor. Council was vested with the entire management of the University including staff appointments and dismissals, and was subject to the statutes and regulations of the University. It was empowered to make and alter any statutes or regulations for these purposes, such statutes and regulations binding upon all members of the University and candidates for degrees once allowed by the Senate and by the Governor. Statutes Chapter I (subsequently Chapter 11) regulated the meetings and proceedings of the Council.

No major changes were made to the constitution of the Council until 1911, when under a revised Act five additional members were elected to Council by Parliament. In 1971 under the new University of Adelaide Act, the membership was increased to 33, comprising 22 persons elected by the Convocation of Elders, 5 members of Parliament elected by Parliament, 4 members elected by the undergraduates and the Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor ex officio.