History of the School

Founded in 1936, The University of Queensland School of Veterinary Science (UQSVS) commenced teaching a first year intake of seven students on the original site at Yeerongpilly. Students completed fourth and fifth years at Sydney University until 1951.

In 1961, the School moved to the main St Lucia Campus, where it was located until 2010. During these years, the School operated a Small Animal Clinic at the St Lucia campus, the Veterinary Science Farm at Moggill (now Pinjarra Hills) in western Brisbane, the Pastoral Veterinary Centre at Goondiwindi, and a veterinary clinic in Dayboro.

Read more about a history of veterinary education (PDF, 599.9 KB) in Queensland.

UQ became a part of the Dayboro community when it bought the local veterinary surgery in 1987. It was previously known as the Pine Valley Veterinary Clinic, established by Don Kerr in 1976.

Operating from a building of historical significance to the community, the UQ VETS Dayboro Veterinary Clinic delivered a quality in-house and ambulatory veterinary service to the Dayboro community and surrounds.

It also provided UQ Gatton veterinary science students with a large animal clinical teaching experience so they could engage in the reality of commercial practice. Students lived on-site and experienced life in a country town.

Don Kerr continued as the clinic’s superintendent until his premature death in 1992.

In 2013, UQ completed construction of a new building and facilities with a range of modern equipment underpinning the latest procedures and innovations in small and large animal surgery and medicine.

UQ ceased operating veterinary services at the Dayboro clinic on Monday 27 November 2023.

The School of Veterinary Science is now one of five schools within the Faculty of Science. The School of Veterinary Science relocated to purpose-built facilities in 2010.

Our range of facilities includes:

• new diagnostic, research and teaching laboratories
• a Clinical Studies Centre in which students learn animal handling and surgery
• UQ VETS Small Animal Hospital
• UQ VETS Equine Specialist Hospital.

In 2012, the School of Veterinary Science received American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accreditation, which is well recognised as the international benchmark for quality in veterinary education.

It now also has full accreditation with the Australasian Veterinary Boards Council (AVBC) and the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS).