Since the development of the university sector in Australia and the foundation of the first university (University of Sydney, 1850), a small number of Vice-Chancellors have served for 15 years or more with some portion of this time in office as Vice-Chancellor in Australia. They include:
29 years: Sir Anthony Brownless KCMG KSG (Melbourne 1858–87);
26 years: Sir William Mitchell (philosopher) KCMG (Adelaide 1916–42);
21 years: John Douglas Story (Queensland 1938–59);
20 years: Sir Stephen Henry Roberts CMG (Sydney 1947–67), James McWha AO (Lincoln 2018, Rwanda 2013–15, Adelaide 2002–12, Massey 1996–2001);
19 years: William Barlow (vice-chancellor) CMG (Adelaide 1896–1915); Sir Robert Strachan Wallace KCMG (Sydney 1928–47); Dianne Yerbury AO (Macquarie 1987–2006); Alan Gilbert (Australian academic) AO (Manchester 2004–10, Melbourne 1996–2004, Tasmania 1991–96); Paul Wellings CBE (Wollongong 2012–21, Lancaster 2002–2012); Margaret Gardner AC (Monash 2014–23, RMIT 2005–14);
18 years: Sir Raymond Priestley (Birmingham 1938–52, Melbourne 1934–38); Sir Stanley Prescott OBE (Western Australia (1953–70); Peter Høj AC (Adelaide University 2024–2026, UofA 2021–2026, Queensland 2012–2020, UniSA 2007–2012).
17 years: Sir George Currie (academic) (UNZ 1952–62, Western Australia 1945–52); Michael Birt (biochemist) AO CBE (UNSW 1981–92, Wollongong 1975–80); Brian Wilson AO (Queensland 1979–96); Roy Webb AO (Griffith 1985–2002); Glyn Davis AC (Melbourne 2005–18, Griffith 2002–05);
16 years: Sir Philip Baxter KBE CMG (UNSW 1953–69); Sir Louis Matheson KBE CMG (Monash 1960–76); Alec Lazenby AO (Tasmania 1982–91, UNE 1970–77); Ian Chubb AC (ANU 2001–11, Flinders 1995–2000); Gerard Sutton AO (Wollongong 1995–2011).
15 years: Ken McKinnon AO (Charles Darwin 2002–03, JCU 1997, Wollongong 1981–94); Dennis Gibson (academic) AO (QUT 1988–2003); Michael Osborne (La Trobe 1990–2005); John Hay (academic) AC (Queensland 1996–2007, Deakin 1992–95); Steven Schwartz (psychologist) AM (Macquarie 2006–11, Brunel 2002–2006, Murdoch 1996–2002); Janice Reid AC (Western Sydney 1998–2013); Peter Coaldrake AO (QUT 2003–17); Ian O'Connor AC (Griffith 2005–19), Sandra Harding (sociologist) AO (JCU 2007–2021), Michael Spence AC (UCL 2021–present, Sydney 2008–20).
Spence is still in office (as at May 2026).
The current Chancellors and Vice-Chancellors/Presidents are given as at April 2025 (or as at May 2026 for the SA-based universities):
{| class="wikitable sortable" border=1 style="border-collapse: collapse;"
|- bgcolor="#cccccc"
! University
! Chancellor
! Vice-Chancellor/President
|-
| Adelaide University
| Pauline Carr
| Nicola Phillips
|-
| Australian Catholic University
| Martin Daubney,
| Zlatko Skrbis
|-
| Australian National University
| Julie Bishop
| Rebekah Brown (interim)
|-
| Bond University
| David Baxby
| Tim Brailsford
|-
| Central Queensland University
| Graeme Innes
| Nick Klomp
|-
| Charles Darwin University
| Paul Henderson,
| Scott Bowman,
|-
| Charles Sturt University
| Michele Allan
| Renée Leon,
|-
| Curtin University
| Vanessa Guthrie,
| Harlene Hayne
|-
| Deakin University
| John Stanhope,
| Iain Martin
|-
| Edith Cowan University
| Gaye McMath
| Clare Pollock
|-
| Federation University
| Terry Moran
| Duncan Bentley
|-
| Flinders University
| John Hood
| Colin J Stirling
|-
| Griffith University
| Andrew Fraser
| Carolyn Evans
|-
| James Cook University
| Ngaire Brown
| Simon Biggs
|-
| La Trobe University
| John Brumby,
| Theo Farrell
|-
| Macquarie University
| Martin Parkinson
| S Bruce Dowton
|-
| Monash University
| Megan Clark,
| Sharon Pickering
|-
| Murdoch University
| Gail McGowan
| Andrew Deeks
|-
| Queensland University of Technology
| Ann Sherry,
| Margaret Sheil,
|-
| RMIT University
| Peggy O'Neal,
| Alec Cameron
|-
| Southern Cross University
| Sandra McPhee,
| Tyrone Carlin
|-
| Swinburne University of Technology
| John Pollaers,
| Pascale Quester
|-
|Torrens University Australia
|Michael Thawley,
|Alwyn Louw (Vice Chancellor), Dan Cockerell (President)
|-
| <s>University of Adelaide</s> (defunct)
|<s>Catherine Branson</s> (2020–2026)
| <s>Peter Høj, </s><br>(2021–2026)
|-
| University of Canberra
| Lisa Paul,
|Bill Shorten
|-
| University of Divinity
| Graeme Blackman,
| James McLaren
|-
| University of Melbourne
| Jane Hansen
| Michael Wesley (acting)
|-
| University of New England
| Sarah Pearson
| Chris Moran
|-
| University of New South Wales
| David Gonski,
| Attila Brungs
|-
| University of Newcastle
| The Hon. Patricia Forsythe
| Alex Zelinsky
|-
| University of Notre Dame Australia
| The Hon. Chris Ellison
| Francis Campbell
|-
| University of Queensland
| Peter N Varghese,
|Deborah Terry
|-
| <s>University of South Australia</s> (defunct)
| <s>The Hon. John Hill</s> (2024–2026)
| <s>David Lloyd</s><br>(2013–2026)
|-
| University of Southern Queensland
| John McVeigh
| Karen Nelson (acting)
|-
| University of Sydney
| David Thodey,
| Mark Scott,
|-
| University of the Sunshine Coast
| Angus Houston,
| Helen Bartlett
|-
| University of Tasmania
| Alison Watkins
| Rufus Black
|-
| University of Technology Sydney
| Catherine Livingstone
| Andrew Parfitt
|-
| University of Western Australia
| Robert French,
| Amit Chakma
|-
| University of Wollongong
| Michael Still
| Eileen McLaughlin (Interim) Max Lu (from May 2025)
|-
| Victoria University
| Steve Bracks
| Adam Shoemaker
|-
| Western Sydney University
| Jennifer Westacott
| George Williams
|}
See also
- Lists of university leaders