In this paper, Mark Hutchinson examines the substantial influence Gough Whitlam had on the establishment of the University of Western Sydney.

When Gough Whitlam first entered parliament in 1952 as the MP for the south-western Sydney seat of Werriwa, there was not a single high school in his electorate. Despite the summer heat there were few public swimming pools, and significantly, much of Western Sydney (west of Woodville Road) was not connected to the sewer.

The concept of a University in the West was repeatedly shelved in order to cater for booming populations closer to the east. University participation rates in the western suburbs were the lowest in the country, limiting generations of people from many of the benefits most Australians took for granted.