Administrative History: The University Association was formally established at a meeting on 23 September 1872 following a preliminary meeting of "gentlemen favourable to the establishment of a University in Adelaide" on 17 September to which 24 clergymen were invited by members of Union College.

A Committee was established comprising persons attending the preliminary meeting and others by invitation, and the Association elected a President, Treasurer and an Executive Council at its first meeting. The decision to establish a University was taken following an offer of a substantial gift of 20,000 pounds by W.W. Hughes towards liberal education undertaken by Union College,and the Association's aims were to secure further members and financial support, appoint professors and lecturers and arrange classes, and to establish the University formally by Act of Parliament.

General public support was not enthusiastic, and the bill to endow and incorporate the University was long delayed by changes of government and technical problems, so it was more than two years before the aims of the Association were achieved, although two professors had been appointed by Hughes and small classes were conducted by them from 1873.

Following the passage of the Bill in November 1874 the University Council was appointed in December and the Association lapsed, holding a final meeting in May 1875 to formally disband itself and to authorise transfer of its records to the University.