The verdant universities are a group of Australian universities founded in the 1960s and 1970s, which are sometimes called "gumtree" universities.[1] These universities were established in their state capitals, often next to native bushland (now nature reserves), and have lush vegetative campuses – which the naming "verdant" refers to.
They are predominantly the second or third established university in their state; the only exception is Macquarie, which is the third university in Sydney, but the fourth university in New South Wales.
La Trobe University takes "verdant" a step further by the fact that it owns a 28-hectare wildlife sanctuary, in addition to managing the Gresswell Hill Nature Conservation Reserve, situated north of the Melbourne campus.[2][3]
While these five are considered the "main verdants" as they have the most in common, there are other universities that have been labelled as a verdant or "gumtree" university.[1][4] These include: