The Western Australian College of Advanced Education (WACAE) was established on 1 January 1982 following the amalgamation of Claremont Teacher's College, Churchlands College of Advanced Education, Mt Lawley Teacher's College and Nedlands College of Advanced Education.

WACAE was granted university status from 1 January 1991 and changed its name to Edith Cowan University.

Claremont Teacher's College was established in 1902 as a Teacher's Training College under the control of the Education Department.

With the passing of the Teacher Education Act in 1973, the college became an autonomous body being governed by a Council under the auspices of the Western Australian Teacher Education Authority.

The Colleges Act 1978 abolished the Teacher Education Act and established the college as a self governing body with a reconstituted council.

On 1 January 1982, Claremont Teachers College amalgamated with Nedlands College, Mount Lawley College and Churchlands College to form the Western Australian College of Advanced Education.

The Nedlands College, previously the Western Australian Secondary Teachers College, was established following the passing of the Colleges Act in 1978. The College was a self-governing body under a council and operated as such until it amalgamated with Churchlands College, Mt Lawley College, Churchlands College and Claremont Teachers College to form the Western Australian College of Advanced Education.

Graylands Teachers College was established on 14 February 1955 under the control of the Education Department.

With the passing of the Teacher Education Act in 1973, the College became an autonomous body with a Board under the auspices of the Western Australian Teacher Education Authority.

The College was phased out at the end of 1979.

The Western Australian Secondary Teachers College (previously the Nedlands Secondary Teachers College) was formally established on 26 November 1973 by order of Sect. 57 of the Teacher Education Act 1972.

The College an autonomous body governed by a Board responsible to the Western Australian Teacher Education Authority.

The College Act 1978 abolished the Authority and the WA Secondary Teachers College and established the Nedlands College as a self-governing body.

Mount Lawley College was established as a primary teachers college in 1970 under the control of the Education Department.

With the passing of the Teacher Education Act 1972, the college became an autonomous body governed by a Board under the auspices of the newly created Western Australian Teacher Education Authority.

When the Colleges Act 1978 was passed, Mount Lawley Teachers College was abolished and Mount Lawley College was established as a self governing body under a reconstituted council.

Mount Lawley College, previously Mount Lawley Teachers College, was established following the proclamation of the Colleges Act 1978.

The College was a self-governing body under a reconstituted council. Mount Lawley College amalgamated with Churchlands College, Nedlands College and Claremont Teachers College to form the Western Australian College of Advanced Education on 1 January 1982.

Churchlands Teachers College (initially referred to as Churchlands Primary Teachers College) was established in 1972 initially to train teachers for open plan class rooms. In 1976 the College added a School of Business Studies. During its first year the College was under the control of the Education Department.

The passing of the Teacher Education Act 1972 established the Western Australian Teacher Education Authority and Churchlands Teachers College as an autonomous campus controlled by a board under the auspices of the Teacher Education Authority.

The Colleges Act 1978 abolished Churchlands Teachers College and established Churchlands College as a self governing body under a reconstituted council.

Churchlands College, previously Churchlands Teachers College was established as a self governing body under a council, following the passing of the Colleges Act 1978.

In 1976, the Partridge Committee recommended the establishment of a single College of Advanced Education with constituent campuses.

From 1 January 1982, Mount Lawley College, Nedlands College and Claremont Teachers College amalgamated with Churchlands College to form the Western Australian College of Advanced Education.