At the first meeting of the University College's Provisional Council from from 7-9 January, 1947 it was reported that, of the sites inspected for the new university, the 650 acres of land south -east of the Mona Reservoir and Mona aqueduct embracing Gibraltar Camp would be the most suitable. UCWI's Principal, Dr. T.W.J. Taylor, then entered into negotiations with the Government of Jamaica for the land.

Subsequently, a resolution was passed by the Water Commission and the Legislature placing 673 acres of land at Mona at the disposal of the Government of Jamaica for use by the University College.

The site which was selected consisted of lands formerly part of two large sugar estates: Papine and Mona. The Papine Estate was named in 1756 by its owner, Mr. Alexander Grant who took the name from a village in Banffshire, Scotland. The origins for the name of the Mona Estate granted to Mr. Benjamin Byrne after the English occupation of 1655, are less certain. It has been suggested that it may derive from the Roman name for Anglesey or the Isle of Mann. The ruins of these two sugar estates, such as the aqueduct and sugar works, are still evident today and comprise the historic monuments of the Mona Campus.