Students at the University of Sydney
Students in the early years
This webpage provides brief information about the beginnings / establishment of the Faculty of Science, and photos of its early students and graduates.
– View more information and photos about early women Science students.
On this webpage:
- Milestones
- Gallery — In the 1850s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, 1900s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s and today
Click on images for enlargement.
FACULTY OF SCIENCE 1882
Milestones
| 1852: | Teaching of Science in the University began in the Faculty of Arts, when the first 3 professors arrived. Professor John Smith taught Experimental Philosophy along with Chemistry and Professor Morris Pell taught Mathematics. Find out about the first 24 students. |
| 1882: | The Faculty of Science was established, with Professor of Chemistry Archibald Liversidge as its first Dean. It offered the Bachelor of Science and the Doctor of Science. |
| In Year I, undergraduates were required to attend and pass the first year courses in the Faculty of Arts; Year II - Chemistry, Physics, Natural History, Mathematics, French and German; Year III - Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, Minerology, Geology and Palaeontology, and Zoology and Botany. | |
| However, at first the Faculty was slow to attract more than a very small number of students. | |
| 1883: | Frank Leverrier and Ebenezer Wood were the first candidates enrolled in Science II. |
| 1885: | The first two Bachelor of Science graduates were Frank Leverrier, with first-class honours and the gold medal, and Ebenezer Wood. |
| 1886: | The first female candidate enrolled in Science II was Fanny Hunt. |
| 1888: | The first woman Bachelor of Science graduates was Fanny Hunt. |
| A number of new ‘temporary’ purpose-built facilities for professional subjects began to be built out of sight of the main building: Physics, Chemistry, Macleay Museum, Geology, Biology and Botany. The buildings constructed in this period formed the genesis of what was to become Science Road, lined with science facilities. | |
| 1890: | A revised Science curriculum extending over three years was introduced. |
| 1908: | Harald Jensen was the first to be awarded the degree of Doctor of Science. |
| 1920: | Agricultural Science, Architecture, Engineering and Veterinary Science, which had all been departments of the Faculty of Science, became separate faculties in their own right. |
| 1924: | Marjorie Collins (later Shiels) was the first Master of Science graduate. |
| 1925: | A new Physics Building was completed - it was the first major extension of the University buildings beyond the Quadrangle and Science Road. |
| 1932: | There were 353 undergraduates, with 6 professors in physics, chemistry, zoology, geology and physical geography, botany and mathematics (pure and applied). |
| 1937: | John Cornforth graduated BSc with first-class honours and the University medal. In 1975 he won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry with Vladimir Prelog. |
| 1951: | Eleanora Gyarfas and George Humphrey were two of the first three to gain the Doctor of Philosophy in the University - the other was in Engineering. |
| 1959: | A large new Chemistry School in modern architectural style was opened on Eastern Avenue, followed by other science facilities. |
| 2012: | The Faculty had 3,637 women and 2,871 men student enrolments as at 31 March. |
| The Faculty comprises the History and Philosophy of Science Unit and the Schools of Biological Sciences; Chemistry; Geosciences; Mathematics and Statistics; Molecular Bioscience; Physics; and Psychology. |
Gallery
In the 1850s
|
Professor John Smith was one |
Professor Morris Pell was |
Henry Chamberlain Russell came 2nd in Classics, 1st in Mathematics and Natural Philosophy and 1st in Chemistry and Experimental Physics in his Bachelor of Arts exams in 1858, and graduated Bachelor of Arts in 1859. Russell became an astronomer and meteorologist, and was one of the most eminent men of science in Australia in the nineteenth century, photo, courtesy of the Powerhouse Museum Collection on flickr.
In the 1870s
Professor Archibald Liversidge was appointed Professor of Chemistry and Minerology in 1872, and became the first Dean of the Faculty of Science in 1882, photo G3_224_1927, University of Sydney Archives.
In the 1880s
|
One of the first two Bachelor of |
Fanny Hunt was the first woman |
Professor Richard Threlfall became Professor of Physics in 1886, photo G3_224_0382, University of Sydney Archives.
The Physics department in its new building (now the Badham Building) in Science Road, completed in 1888. The building had been built to specifications drawn up by the newly appointed Professor of Physics, Richard Threlfall, 1890 photo 842_09, University of Sydney Archives.
A Chemistry class in 1888, photo, University of Sydney Archives.
In the 1890s
The new building for the Chemistry department (now Pharmacy) in Science Road, was designed largely by Professor Liversidge and completed in 1890.
Tannett Edgeworth David was Professor of Geology and Physical Geography (1893-1924), photo G3_224_1211, University of Sydney Archives.
A Chemistry practical class in the new Chemistry building in 1893, photo, University of Sydney Archives.
The School of Mines Building, which included the Department of Geology and opened in 1895, photo, Australian Town and Country Journal, 26 October 1901, National Library of Australia. Today the building is named the Edgeworth David Building.
Professor James Wilson, J P Hill and C J Martin in the Biology laboratory in 1895, photo G3_224_0858, University of Sydney Archives.
A Chemistry class in 1896, photo, University of Sydney Archives.
The Congress of the Australian Association for the Advancement of Science held at the University in January 1898, photo, Australian Town and Country Journal, 15 January 1898, National Library of Australia.
In the early 1900s
Geology students on an excursion to Narrabeen in the 1900s, photo, University of Sydney Archives.
The new Biology Building (renamed Zoology in 1914 and now the Heydon-Laurence Building) was opened in 1902 at the western end of Science Road, photo G3_224_MF374_0242, University of Sydney Archives.
The Zoology classrooms at the rear of the Biology Building, photo G3_224_MF374_0246, University of Sydney Archives.
A Chemistry class in 1903, photo, University of Sydney Archives.
|
Douglas Mawson studied Mining |
Harald Jensen was the first to be |
A Chemistry class in 1909, photo, University of Sydney Archives.
A Geology excursion to Mt Kosciusko in 1914, with Tannatt William Edgworth David, Professor of Geology, on the right, photo G3_224_1284_1, University of Sydney Archives.
In the 1920s
Professor Edgworth David and Mr Lionel Waterhouse, Lecturer in Geology and Physical Geology, on excursion in the early 1920s, photo from the 'School of Geosciences Annual Report 2009', University of Sydney.
Geology students, with Professor Edgworth David front left, at Wollongong in 1922, photo G3_224_2144_1 by Roslyn Toovey, University of Sydney Archives.
Science III students in 1923, photo G3_224_1484, University of Sydney Archives.
The Biology Building underwent extensive alterations and was completed in 1923 for the Department of Zoology, photo G3_224_MF374_0245, University of Sydney Archives. Its name became the Zoology Building and in 2005 was renamed the Heydon-Laurence Building.
Marjorie Collins (later Shiels), the first Master of Science graduate, in 1924, photo G3_224_1415 taken in 1930, University of Sydney Archives.
The newly completed Physics Building in 1925, G3_224_1571, University of Sydney Archives. The building was designed by Professor Leslie Wilkinson in collaboration with architect, Keith Harris, in the distinctive Mediterranean style.
The Department of Botany had been given temporary accommodation in the Macleay Museum in 1915. Ten years later, a new sandstone building known as the Botany Building was added to east end of Macleay Museum. This photo shows the construction of the Botany Building (now Macleay Building), photo G3_224_MF374_0018, University of Sydney Archives.
Chemistry staff and students in 1927 outside the Chemistry Building (now Pharmacy) in Science Road, photo P183_1_0270 by Harold Cazneaux, University of Sydney Archives.
|
Chemistry Department |
Chemistry Department |
|
Chemistry Department class 1927 |
Inorganic Chemistry Department |
|
Chemistry Department |
Chemistry Department |
The Physics Building in 1927, Harold Cazneaux photo P183_1_0009, University of Sydney Archives.
Physics Department research in 1927, Harold Cazneaux photo P183_1_0068, University of Sydney Archives.
Organic chemistry staff and research students in 1929: Dr Victor Trikojus (lecturer, seated left), Professor John Earl (centre) and Francis Lions (demonstrator) (right), photo, University of Sydney Archives.
In the 1930s
Bachelor of Science graduates in 1931, photo, University of Sydney Archives.
Science students on a visit to the Port Kembla Steelworks in 1935. In front are Bob Franki and Frank Boileau; in the second row are Arthur Birch, Arnie Rosenfeldt and Ern Ritchie; standing at the back is Ken Sewell, photo provided by A C Clarke, from The Gazette, February 1977.
In the 1940s
A school in radio physics was estabished at the University in 1941 to train specialists for the armed services. The school was open only to personnel from the forces who had passed at least the first year of a physics course at a university. The photo is of Number 3 Radio Physics Training School taken in 1943, photo G3_224_1799, University of Sydney Archives.
A large fibro-cement building opposite Manning, which came to be known as the Tramsheds, was constructed in 1945 to provide prac facilities for first year Chemistry students. The Tramsheds served Chemistry until the undergraduate labs in the new Chemistry building opened in 1958, photo from ChemNEWS, Issue 16, 2010.
In the 1950s
The new Chemistry building under construction in 1956, photo G3_224_0088, University of Sydney Archives.
In the 1960s
Kay Elfick, a pilot and 3rd year Science student at the University, attending an AWPA Air Reliability Trial held in Broken Hill in 1961, photo, The Australian Women's Weekly, 26 April 1961, National Library of Australia.
Professor Harry Messel, Professor of Physics and Head of the School of Physics 1952-1987, ran the University's Summer Science School. He is pictured here (far right) with students at the 1963 School, photo, Mitchell Library, State Library of NSW, Call number: Australian Photographic Agency - 13644.
Professor Charles McCusker, Professor of High Energy Nuclear Physics 1961 - 1985, answered viewers' science questions on Channel 7's "University Tutorial". He is pictured here in 1964 with his TV team, photo, The Australian Women's Weekly, 14 October 1964, National Library of Australia.
Professor Julius Sumner Miller, visiting lecturer for the Physics Department 1963 - 1986, ran a science show "Why is it so?" on television in the 1960s. He is pictured in his laboratory at the School of Physics at the University for TV Times in 1964, photo, Mitchell Library, State Library of NSW, Call number: Australian Photographic Agency - 16981.
In the 1970s
A Science laboratory - Orientation Day 1973, photo G77_1_2192, University of Sydney Archives.
In the 1980s
Four First Class Honours Science graduates in 1987: Scott Stark, Robert Brink, Bill Tulip and Gregory Pierens, photo G77_2_0499, University of Sydney Archives.
Physics III students fitting a secondary reflector to the Molonglo Radio Telescope as part of a research project, photo by Dr Michael Large, The University of Sydney Annual Report 1987.
A Science stall - Open Day 1988, photo G77_1_2181, University of Sydney Archives.
A Science demonstration - Open Day 1988, photo G77_1_2186, University of Sydney Archives.
In the Chemistry lab in 1989, photo, The University of Sydney Annual Report 1989.
In the 1990s
Second year Genetics, Cellular and Development Biology class in 1990, photo, The University of Sydney Annual Report 1990.
At a Biological Sciences weekend trip at Warrah in 1991, photo from Sonia Wansorough, Biology News, July 2012.
Today
The Physics Building, photo, courtesy of sydneyarchitecture.
The Chemistry Building, photo, courtesy of sydneyarchitecture.
The Molecular Bioscience Building, photo, 2010 Annual Report.
2012 Physics prize and scholarship recipients, photo from PHYSICS News, Winter 2012.
Information sources
- 'A History of the University of Sydney, Vol 1, 1850 - 1939', by Clifford Turney, Ursula Bygott and Peter Chippendale
- National Library of Australia historic newspapers
- University of Sydney Calendar Archive
- The University of Sydney Overview History: The Physical Development of Buildings and Grounds, by Rosemary Kerr
- The early years for Chemistry alumni, by Dr Jim Eckert
Lis Bergmann, 2012