Austin College is currently celebrating its 40^th Anniversary and has provided a home for more than 8000 students since its opening in 1972. The College was named to honour the service to the University of Dr R.B. Austin, who was the Government Medical Officer in Armidale at the time of the College’s establishment.

Austin is the youngest of the seven residential colleges at the University of New England and offers accommodation for 288 residents. Our reputation for being the ‘friendly and more informal’ UNE College began with our first Master, Dr Brian Seppelt. "Doc" Seppelt was Master until 1977 when Dr Alan McKenzie took over the position. Dr McKenzie continued to build on these strong foundations for the College and after 31 years as Master of Austin College, he retired and in 2009, Mr David Ward took over the helm.

In 2010, Austin College gained our current Head, Ms Andrea Gledhill, who is dedicated to maintaining and generating the unique energy of Austin College established by its former Masters and continually being passed on by generations of alumni and students.