on several occasions the government of the northern territory requested the australian commonwealth government to finance a university in the territory. the response was always that the population was too small. ngo 1985, it took the unusual step of financing the university college of the northern territory itself for a five--year period from 1987 ukuze 1991. the college was governed by a council, chaired by austin asche and led by a warden, professor jim thomson, from the university of queensland. an arrangement was made with the university of queensland that the college would awards degrees from that institution. staff were recruited in 1986 and housed in the old darwin primary school buildings. just prior to taking the first students in february 1987, the college moved to converted building of the former darwin hospital at myilly point in darwin. the former nurses’ hostel became a student residence, named international house. the college had two faculties, of arts and science. it awarded, through the university of queensland link, the first doctor of philosophy degrees in the northern territory.