The grant was to enable the Australian version of the University of Illinois' Illiac to be built.

The computer was constructed in the School of Physics and at Standard Telephones and Cables Pty Ltd (now Alcatel Australia), with the first successful scientific calculation on the machine performed on July 4, 1956. It officially opened on September 12, 1956.

By 1961 a computing science department was created within the School of Physics.

In 1979 the Department of Computer Science separated from the School of Physics and in 2001, the Department of Computer Science was renamed the School of Information Technologies.

One of the professors, who has been with the School since 1977, is Associate Professor Judy Kay.