the sole provider of higher education in wagga wagga is the local campus of the multi-campus charles sturt university, located on the outskirts of the suburb of estella. the university was established on 1 july 1989 following the enactment of the charles sturt university act, 1989 and involved the merger of several existing separately-administered colleges of advanced education including the riverina college of advanced education in wagga wagga. at the time of its establishment it became the ninth university in the state and its inaugural vice-chancellor was c.d. blake ao who at the time was the principal of the riverina college.