Students at the University of Sydney
Student Commem Days gallery
This webpage presents a selection of photos relating to Student Commem (Commemoration) Days at the University of Sydney. The annual Commem Day processions were noted for their witty and political floats, and festivities were often exuberant.
Find out about Student Commem Days.
Click on images for enlargement.
1899 / 1900s / 1920s / 1930s / 1940s / 1950s / 1960s
The first Commem procession - 22 April 1899
1899 - Medical students in first Commem procession on 22 April 1899, photo 842_07, from C R B Blackburn's personal archives, University of Sydney Archives
1899 - Medical students, photo 842_08, from C R B Blackburn's personal archives, University of Sydney Archives
1899 - Part of the Students' Commem procession on Saturday 29 April 1899 - a contemporary illustration, image, 'The Gazette', July 1973.
1899 - A Sydney lancer (illustrated above) and two famous politicians, image from the 'Australian Town and Country Journal', 29 April 1899, NLA Newspapers.
1899 - Fancy dress parade, image from the 'Australian Town and Country Journal', 29 April 1899, NLA Newspapers.
1899 - A mohawk and a Chinaman, image from the 'Australian Town and Country Journal', 29 April 1899, NLA Newspapers.
1899 - A group in fancy dress, image from the 'Australian Town and Country Journal', 29 April 1899, NLA Newspapers.
1900s
1900 - Photo 842_06 possibly of Medicine students, from C R B Blackburn's personal archives, University of Sydney Archives
1905 - The Medical Students' Death Dance, Commem Day 1905, photo from the 'Australian Town and Country Journal', 10 May 1905, NLA Newspapers.
1907 - Engineering students 'Shackleton's expedition' float in 1907, photo G3_224_1884, University of Sydney Archives.
1908 - Two men students dressed for Commem Day in 1908, with one dressed as a bride, photo G3_224_1480, University of Sydney Archives.
1913 - The first Commem day float - 'On our selection' - by Agriculture students in 1913, photo G3_224_0651, University of Sydney Archives.
1920s
1920 - The Commem Day procession in 1920, photo G3_224_0843, University of Sydney Archives.
1920 - A 1920 Commem Day 'Hospitals overcrowded' float, photo G3_224_1586, University of Sydney Archives.
1921 - The Chancellor the Hon Sir William Portus Cullen KCMG (seated, centre) watching Commem Day 1921, photo from 'Hermes'.
1922 - Studies in makeup on Commem Day in 1922, photo from 'The Capricornian', 2 June 1922, NLA Newspapers.
1923 - Students and float from the 1923 Commem procession, photo, 'The Gazette', June 1974.
1927 - The Faculty of Agriculture Commem Day float - the winning display - in 1927, photo G3_224_1613, University of Sydney Archives.
1928 - Commem songbook and program, image, 'The Gazette', June 1974.
1928 - The Faculty of Agriculture Commem Day float in 1928, photo G3_224_1614, University of Sydney Archives.
1928 - A Commem Day procession down Bridge Street in the 1920s, photo G3/224/0724, University of Sydney Archives.
1930s
1931 - Engineering students driving through the University grounds to advertise their Commemoration concert, photo from 'The Sydney Morning Herald', 23 May 1931, NLA Newspapers.
1932 - Students with their ammunition cases of eggs & tomatoes, photo, Mitchell Library, State Library of NSW, Digital order number: hood_03871.
1932 - Medicine v Engineering students, outside Manning House, photo, Mitchell Library, State Library of NSW, Digital order number: hood_03866.
1932 - Medicine and Engineering students engaging in their traditional battle with flour and water in the University grounds, photo, Mitchell Library, State Library of NSW, Digital order number: hood_03870.
1932 - Medicine and Engineering students, photo, Mitchell Library, State Library of NSW, Digital order number: hood_03868.
1932 - Dentistry student 'extracts' a victim's tooth, photo, Mitchell Library, State Library of NSW, Digital order number: hood_03872.
1932 - Dentistry students, photo, Mitchell Library, State Library of NSW, Digital order number: hood_03862.
1935 - Student Commem Day, 21 May 1935, photo, Mitchell Library, State Library of NSW, Digital order number: hood_12309.
1937 - The Materia Medica (pharmacology) float leaving the University on 19 May 1937, photo, Mitchell Library, State Library of NSW, Digital order number: hood_14987.
1937 - Dentistry IV and Engineering III floats leaving the University, photo, Mitchell Library, State Library of NSW, Digital order number: hood_14973.
1937 - Crowds watching the procession passing St Mary's Cathedral on 19 May 1937, photo, Mitchell Library, State Library of NSW, Digital order number: hood_14972.
1937 - Crowds watching women students marching in the procession on 19 May 1937, photo, Mitchell Library, State Library of NSW, Digital order number: hood_14985.
1937 - The procession passing St James Station, photo, Mitchell Library, State Library of NSW, Digital order number: hood_14996.
1937 - The procession passing Hyde Park, Photo, Mitchell Library, State Library of NSW, Digital order number: hood_14999.
1937 - A knight and his lady, photo, Mitchell Library, State Library of NSW, Digital order number: hood_14970.
1937 - The women scientists float, photo, Mitchell Library, State Library of NSW, Digital order number: hood_14971.
1937 - A float, photo, Mitchell Library, State Library of NSW, Digital order number: hood_14974.
1937 - Part of Commem Day, photo, Mitchell Library, State Library of NSW, Digital order number: hood_14976.
1937 - Medical students, photo, Mitchell Library, State Library of NSW, Digital order number: hood_14979.
1937 - Women medical and law students, photo, Mitchell Library, State Library of NSW, Digital order number: hood_14980.
1937 - Three male students, possibly satirizing Oswald Mosley, photo, Mitchell Library, State Library of NSW, Digital order number: hood_14977.
1937 - 'Agriculture Nude Club goes for a hike', photo, Mitchell Library, State Library of NSW, Digital order number: hood_14982.
1937 - Dentistry students, photo, Mitchell Library, State Library of NSW, Digital order number: hood_14986.
1937 - Female students, photo, Mitchell Library, State Library of NSW, Digital order number: hood_14989.
1937 - Another 'bride', photo, Mitchell Library, State Library of NSW, Digital order number: hood_14983.
1937 - 'Queen Lairy - The one and only male steamer', photo, Mitchell Library, State Library of NSW, Digital order number: hood_14995.
1937 - The Sydney University Women's Undergraduate Association float, photo, Mitchell Library, State Library of NSW, Digital order number: hood_15000.
1938 - The 'Ladies of Medicine III' in the car outside the Medical School on 13 May 1938, photo, Mitchell Library, State Library of NSW, Digital order number: hood_18200.
1938 - Medicine I students outside the Medical School, photo, Mitchell Library, State Library of NSW, Digital order number: hood_18201.
1938 - Women Agriculture students, photo, Mitchell Library, State Library of NSW, Digital order number: hood_18207.
1938 - Crowds watching Commem Day procession opposite the T&G Building in Elizabeth Street on 13 May 1938, photo, Mitchell Library, State Library of NSW, Digital order number: hood_18197.
1938 - Crowds watching Commem Day procession in Park Street, photo, Mitchell Library, State Library of NSW, Digital order number: hood_18198.
1938 - Women students march along Elizabeth and Park Streets, Photo, Mitchell Library, State Library of NSW, Digital order number: hood_18214.
1938 - Crowds watching Commem Day procession in Park Street, with Hyde Park in view, photo, Mitchell Library, State Library of NSW, Digital order number: hood_18199.
1938 - Crowds along Elizabeth and Park Streets, photo, Mitchell Library, State Library of NSW, Digital order number: hood_18215.
1938 - Male students outside Tropical Medicine, photo, Mitchell Library, State Library of NSW, Digital order number: hood_18209.
1938 - Male students, photo, Mitchell Library, State Library of NSW, Digital order number: hood_18217.
1940s
1940s - 'Women evening students' float on Park Street, photo, Mitchell Library, State Library of NSW, Digital order number: hood_20373.
1940s - The Materia Medica (pharmacology) float at Park Street, photo, Mitchell Library, State Library of NSW, Digital order number: hood_20380.
1950s
1952 - A Commem Day float in 1952: students against Herbert Vere Evatt (The 'Doc'), Leader of the Australian Labor Party (and thus Leader of the Opposition), photo G3_224_1477_1, University of Sydney Archives.
1952 - A Commem Day float in 1952: students against Ben Chifley, former Labor Prime Minister, photo G3_224_1477_(2), University of Sydney Archives.
1952 - Commem Day United Nations float in 1952, photo G3_224_1477_3, University of Sydney Archives.
1960s
1960s - An an anti-Vietnam War float, photo, Mitchell Library, State Library of NSW, Digital order number: d7_19494.