Students at the University of Sydney
Early students and graduates
The first students were admitted in 1851.
– View information and photos specifically about the early women students and graduates
On this webpage:
- Milestones
- Gallery - In the 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, early 1900s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s and today
Click on images for enlargement.
At the University
Milestones
| 1863: | It is thought that the first University sporting club formed was the football club. |
| 1874: | The Sydney University Union (SUU) was established for debating. |
| 1884: | A men’s common room at the rear of the Great Hall was provided for the Union. |
| 1888: | Commemoration Day festivities by students began when students gave an impromptu concert to the audience at a graduation ceremony. |
| 1890: | Sydney University Sports Union (SUSU) was formed for men students. |
| 1912: | The Holme Building for the Men's Union was occupied although not completed until 1916. |
| 1929: | The Students' Representative Council (SRC) was founded. |
| 1972: | The Sydney University (Men's) Union amalgamated with the Sydney University Women's Union to form the University of Sydney Union. |
| 2003: | SUSU amalgamated with Sydney University Women’s Sports Association to form Sydney Uni Sport. |
Gallery
In the 1860s
On 23 December 1867, the first annual boat race was held in Melbourne between the premier crews of the Sydney and Melbourne Universities, illustration, Illustrated Australian News for Home Readers, 27 December 1867, National Library of Australia. The race was won by Melbourne University.
In the 1870s
The Football Club team in 1871, photo G3_224_0168, University of Sydney Archives.
In the 1880s
The Football Club team in 1882, photo G3_224_0260, University of Sydney Archives.
Students in 1887, image, Australian Town and Country Journal, 28 May1897, National Library of Australia.
A tennis group in 1889, photo G3_224_1260, University of Sydney Archives.
In the 1890s
The rear of the Quadrangle, showing the Men's Common Room at the rear of the Great Hall in the 1890s, photo G3_224_0363, University of Sydney Archives.
A picnic party given by Professor J T Wilson, Professor of Anatomy, in 1893Photo G3_224_0624_1, University of Sydney Archives.
The Sydney crew in the 7th Inter-University Boat Race held on the Parramatta River on Saturday 29 April 1894, photo, The Sydney Mail, 5 May 1894, Google News Archive. The winners were Sydney.
Watching the football match between University and Balmain on Saturday 8 June 1895 at the Agricultural Ground, image, Australian Town and Country Journal, 15 June 1895, National Library of Australia. The game ended in favour of the University by 16 points to nil.
The Sydney University Football Team, holders of the Sydney Cricket Ground Cup, 1895, photo, Australian Town and Country Journal, 24 August 1895, National Library of Australia.
Student and staff cricket teams in 1896, photo G3_224_0004, University of Sydney Archives.
Opening run of the University of Sydney Bicycle Club, 1897, photo G3/224/1548, University of Sydney Archives
In the early 1900s
The first Library Reading Room (now the Senate Room) in the Quadrangle in 1900, photo, University of Sydney Archives
The Great Hall set for exams in 1900, photo G3_224_MF374_0184, University of Sydney Archives
The Sydney University crew, winners of the 1901 Inter-University eight-oar boat race, photo, Australian Town and Country Journal, 22 June 1901, National Library of Australia.
The 'Hermes' Committee 1902 - the undergraduates' magazine had begun in 1886, photo, 'Hermes" Jubilee issue 1902
The First Grade Football Team in 1905, photo G3_224_1935, University of Sydney Archives.
Sydney University First Grade Football Team met Glebe on the Sydney Cricket Ground on 25 May. The match, which was watched by 18,000 spectators, was won by Sydney, photo, Australian Town and Country Journal, 29 May 1907, National Library of Australia.
A fictitious garden party at the University illustrating a satirical contribution to Hermes in 1905 (Volume 11, Number 4. New Issue. Sydney, August 16, 1905).
The new Fisher Library Reading Room (now MacLaurin Hall) in 1908, photo G3_224_0224, University of Sydney Archives.
A group of students on the steps of Macleay Museum in 1910, photo G3_224_0998, University of Sydney Archives.
The cover of Hermes, June 1911, University of Sydney Archives.
The Sydney University Men's Tennis team in 1913, photo, University of Sydney Archives.
A Smoke concert held by the Sydney University Evening Students Association in 1915, photo G3_224_2706, University of Sydney Archives
The Men's Union building from Science Road in 1916, photo G3_224_MF374_0195, University of Sydney Archives.
In the 1920s
.jpg)
Captain Allen, President of the Undergraduates Association, reads an address to the Prince of Wales during his visit to the University on 23 June 1920, photo, University of Sydney Archives.
The Men's Union Building from Parramatta Road in 1920, photo G3_224_MF374_0103, University of Sydney Archives.
The Sydney University Dramatic Society performing the comedy 'The Knight of the Burning Pestle' in May 1923, photo, The Sydney Mail, 18 May 1923, Google News Archive.
Examinations in the Great Hall in 1927, photo by Harold Cazneaux, University of Sydney Archives
Three generations of Myer's family graduates in 1928, photo G3_224_0886, University of Sydney Archives
A Newman Society hike in 1928, photo G3_224_1342, University of Sydney Archives
Students in the Quadrangle listening to the recital on the carillon on Armistice Day Monday 11 November 1929, which followed a service in the Great Hall, photo, The Sydney Mail, Google News Archive.
The Sydney University Rifle team was victorious against the Western Australia University team in the annual inter-university rifle match held on Anzac Range, Liverpool in late May 1929 It also broke the record with a score of 2122, photo, The Sydney Mail, 5 June 1929, Google News Archive. Back row, from left: E A Molesworth, G F Falkiner, C H Wood, J S Needham and M E Lawrence. Front row: W Bell, S C Williams (captain) and James Murray Gosper.
In the 1930s
The first SRC President, James Murray Gosper in 1930, photo G3_224_0159, University of Sydney Archives.
A group photo of the first SRC in 1930: A G Smith, F W Baylon, Evanne Wood, A D Edwards, Agnes Dunlop, F S Flynn, James Murray Gosper (President), R G Conley, A F Osborne, Barbara Peden, Ainslie Lennard and J V Connolly, photo G3_224_0160, University of Sydney Archives.
The University of Sydney float which represented education and the marching party of students in the procession following the official opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge on Saturday 19 March 1932, photo, Mitchell Library, State Library of NSW, Digital order no: hood_02122.
His Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester and members of the Students' Representative Council on 23 November 1934, photo, Hood collection, State Library of New South Wales, HA 3544 ... more.
In the 1940s
Student Voluntary Training Corps marching in 1940, photo G3_224_0931, University of Sydney Archives
The SRC in 1944, photo G3_224_0001_1, University of Sydney Archives.
The editorial staff of Honi Soit in 1949, photo G3_224_0024, University of Sydney Archives.
In the 1950s
Students in the Reading Room of Fisher Library (now MacLaurin Hall) in the 1950s, photo, Library website
Prince Phillip is presented to the President of the SRC during his visit to the University on 4 February 1954, photo, University of Sydney Archives ... more.
In the 1960s
Students on Fisher Library roof in 1963, photo G3_224_0122, University of Sydney Archives
In 1965, Sydney student Charles Perkins (BA 1966 Sydney) led a group of 30 students to travel through remote New South Wales on a 'freedom ride' to protest against discrimination against Aboriginal people in small town Australia, photo by Louise Higham from the 'Sydney University Museums News', June 2011
On 1 May 1969 protesting students confronted a Sydney University Regiment guard of honour for Sir Roden Cutler VC who, as well as being Governor of NSW, was honorary colonel of the Sydney University Regiment. There was a brawl between those students who supported and those who opposed the prescence of the Regiment, photo G3_224_1013_8, University of Sydney Archives. The Governor was jostled, pushed, and hit by a tomato, and there was public outrage.
Demonstrations during the visit of the Governor of NSW Sir Roden Cutler in 1969, photo, University of Sydney Archives.
Demonstrations during the visit of the Governor of NSW Sir Roden Cutler in 1969, photo G3_224_1013_6, University of Sydney Archives.
In the 1970s
Official welcome to students in Orientation Week in 1970, photo G3_224_0153_2, University of Sydney Archives
A Vietnam moratorium demonstration on the front lawn in 1971, photo G3_224_0252, University of Sydney Archives.
A dramatised reading from the Winnie the Pooh books in 1971. From left, Peter Simpson (Piglet), Professor Frederick May (Winnie the Pooh), John Roche (Eeyore), John Maze (Christopher Robin) and Professor Leonie Kramer (Narrator), photo G77_1_0116, University of Sydney Archives
Orientation week in 1972, photo G3_224_1178_4_1972, University of Sydney Archives.
Chancellor Sir Hermann Black speaking to students on front lawn during Orientation week in 1973, photo G77_1_2219, University of Sydney Archives.
Hari Krishna devotees at Orientation week in 1974, photo G77_1_2206, University of Sydney Archives.
Enrolling first year students in the Great Hall in 1974, photo G3_224_0583, University of Sydney Archives
Students in 1974, photo G3_224_0656_2, University of Sydney Archives
A pop concert on the front lawn in 1976, photo G3_224_0816, University of Sydney Archives.
Students demonstrating in 1977 against a lecture by controversial Professor Hans Eysenck who was an influential British psychologist, photo G3_224_2166_6, University of Sydney Archives.
Two students in Elizabethan costume during Orientation week 1979, photo G77_1_2235_1, University of Sydney Archives
In the 1980s
The traditional race in the Quadrangle in Orientation week 1983, photo G77_1_2369_1983, University of Sydney Archives.
Students in the new Fisher Library using the then card catalogue in 1985, photo, Library website.
Students in Manning in 1988, photo G77_1_0833, University of Sydney Archives
In the 1990s
Orientation week in 1992, photo G77_1_2312_1992, University of Sydney Archives.
Today
continued
On 5 April 2001, thousands of students took to the streets in a national day of action called by the National Union of Students, demanding an end to corporate control of universities, a liveable income for all, an end to government funding cuts and the abolition of up-front fees. In Sydney students rallied at Victoria Park then marched into the city, photo, courtesy SRC.
Demonstrators at the Senate meeting held on 7 July 2003 protested against raising HECS fees (a proposal of the Nelson Review of Higher Education), photo, courtesy of the SRC. They had to be removed by police, with the meeting being adjourned to the following morning.
STOP VSU rally on the Front Lawn on 28 April 2005, photo, courtesy SRC. On 28 April 2005, University of Sydney students joined thousands of university students to march through Sydney to protest at the Federal Government's plans to introduce VSU (voluntary student unionism).
Students held a rally before the Senate meeting on 14 August 2006 at which the Vice-Chancellor's proposal for funding to SUPRA and SRC, which the student Presidents supported, was to be considered, photo, courtesy of SUPRA.
LB