The University of Western Sydney began operation on 1 January 1989.  The terms of the University of Western Sydney Act 1988 created a federated network university based on two existing Colleges of Advanced Education - Hawkesbury Agricultural College and Nepean College of Advanced Education.

The Act was subsequently amended (University of Western Sydney [amendment] Act 1989) when the Macarthur Institute became the third Member of the University.  The Institute officially joined the University on November 1, 1989.
The Act provides a governing structure to ensure that the aims and standards of the University are adhered to by each of the Members.  The Act also provides for the establishment of other members of the network and for their federation into the University structure from time to time.

The Members are known as the University of Western Sydney, Hawkesbury, the University of Western Sydney, Macarthur, and, the University of Western Sydney, Nepean.
The Act confers upon the University responsibility for:  the provision of educational facilities at university standard; giving attention to the needs and aspirations of residents of Western and South-Western Sydney; undertaking and promoting research, and conferring academic awards (see 1989 Annual Report, UWS Charter).

The University of Western Sydney Hawkesbury, Richmond Campus, is situated on 1500ha of pleasant semi-rural land in the historic Hawkesbury Valley at Richmond on the western fringe of Sydney.  Originally established in 1891 as Hawkesbury Agricultural College, Hawkesbury produced the first agriculturalists in NSW and rapidly developed as one of the leading centres of agricultural education in Australia.

The Blacktown campus of UWS Hawkesbury was established in 1995 following the acquisition from the Commonwealth, in October 1994, of the land and buildings previously known as 'HMAS Nirimba' and used by the Navy as a training centre.  The Nirimba Education Precinct, located off Eastern Road, Quakers Hill, is a co-operative, unincorporated joint venture entered into by UWS Hawkesbury, Western Sydney INstitute of TAFE, Department of Education and Training, and the Catholic Education Office, Diocese of Parramatta.
The University of Western Sydney, Hawkebury offers undergraduate and graduate education for careers in:  food and environmental science; property management, development, and valuation; nursing and community studies; agriculture, and horticulture.
As the result of a major restructure, UWS Hawkesbury became part of the University of Western Sydney which, from the start of 2001, operated as a single multi-campus university rather than as a federation.