Students at the University of Sydney
Student clubs and organisations
On this webpage are brief histories and photos of University of Sydney student clubs and organisations:
- The University of Sydney Union (USU)
- Sydney Uni Sport & Fitness (SUSF)
- Students' Representative Council (SRC)
- Sydney University Postgraduate Representative Association (SUPRA)
THE UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY UNION (USU)
The USU is the oldest and largest student organisation in Australia. It aims to foster the aspirations of the campus community by providing cultural, social and entertainment programs, and student clubs and societies. It supports over 200 clubs and societies that students can join to pursue theirown interest. The USU also looks after much of the on-campus catering and also publishes the weekly campus magazine 'The Bull' ... visit the USU website.
Sydney University Union (SUU) (The Men's Union) 1874
The Sydney University Union (SUU) was established in 1874 for debating, at a time when the University had fewer than a hundred students.
The Men's Common Room 1884
In 1884, the University's Senate provided a men’s common room for the union near the main Quadrangle.
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.
The Men's Union Building 1912
However, by the late 1880s this had become inadequate with insufficient ventilation, space and furniture. A larger weatherboard building was erected adjoining the existing common room and, while this fell short of the students’ requests, it was welcomed and provided temporary relief.
In 1888 the Sydney University Association petitioned the Senate for a new suite of rooms, one of which would be allocated to the University Union for meetings.
In 1906, Senate decided to provide a building for the union's use. This building is now known as the Holme Building, named after the first president following the organisation's reconstitution in 1911, Assistant Professor E.R. Holme; the building, although not completed until 1916, was occupied in 1912, with extensions made in 1924, 1935, 1954 and 1957.
The Men's Union building from Science Road in 1916, photo G3_224_MF374_0195, University of Sydney Archives.
The Men's Union Building from Parramatta Road in 1920, photo G3_224_MF374_0103, University of Sydney Archives.
Admission of women 1881
In 1881 the Senate decided unanimously to admit women to the University on equal terms with men. The arrival of women greatly influenced the development of recreational and sporting facilities.
One of the basic requirements for the admission of women was the provision of ‘a suitable retiring room and other necessary conveniences set apart exclusively for female students.’ Senate intended to erect a small cottage at the rear of the main buildings. However, this did not eventuate and for the first few years after their admission, women had use of a room in the tower.
The Women's Common Room 1885
In 1885 women students were given partial use of a temporary weatherboard building that had been built as a laboratory for classes in practical chemistry. In 1889 this building was handed over completely to women as the ‘New Ladies Common Room.’ Situated in what is now the south-eastern end of the Quadrangle, the building contained a reading room, a common room used for lunches, debates and meetings, tutor’s room, kitchen and a small dressing room with lockers.
The Women's Common Room - far right - behind the Main Building in 1893, photo by Edward Hufton, University of Sydney Archives.
Women students at tea outside the Women's Common Room in 1892, photo, University of Sydney Archives.
A group of women students outside the Women's Common Room eating bananas in 1893, photo G3_224_0367, University of Sydney Archives.
The Women's Common Room behind the old Fisher Library in 1910, photo G3_224_MF374_0224, University of Sydney Archives.
The Women's Common Room in the Quadrangle, with the completed South range in the background, photo G3_224_0824, University of Sydney Archives.
Early women's unions from 1892
Sydney University Women's Association was formed in 1892 - to include women undergraduates and graduates, but which was predominantly graduate.
The Women's Debating Union was formed in 1896.
In 1899 the Sydney University Women Undergraduates Union was formed (incorporating the Women's Debating Union) - subsequently changing its name to the Sydney University Women Undergraduates Association.
In 1908 the Women’s Association was reconstituted as the Women’s Union and launched a campaign with the Women Undergraduate’s Association to have a new and extensive
building erected to replace the temporary wooden cottage used as a common room, which was now inadequate due to the increasing number of women students.
The Women's Undergraduate Association Committee in 1917, photo G3_224_0575, University of Sydney Archives.
The Women's Union and building (Manning House) 1917
In 1913 the Senate agreed to allocate funds for construction of a union building for women students. It was decided to name the new building ‘Manning House’ in tribute to the former Chancellor
who had been responsible for the admission of women to the University.
A separate Sydney University Women's Union (SUWU) was formed in 1914 on the initiative of Senate, to be a society of University women which represented all sections of University life and to control the building of Manning House for the Women's Union, which would be funded by Senate.
Manning House (for the Women's Union) opened in 1917.
The Women's Union Board of Directors in 1917, photo G3_224_1451, University of Sydney Archives.
The Women's Union's Manning House in 1920, photo G3_224_MF374_0210, University of Sydney Archives.
Women students on the stairs of the Women's Union's Manning House in 1927, photo by Harold Cazneaux, University of Sydney Archives.
Women students on the stairs of the Women's Union's Manning House, c1932, photo by Sam Hood, Mitchell Library, State Library of NSW, Digital order number: hood_03867.
Princess Alexandra with students outside the Women's Union's Manning House, where was entertained at lunch on 15 September 1959 by the President and Board of Directors of the Sydney University Women's Union ... more.
Amalgamation of the two unions into one, 1972
The two unions amalgamated on 1 January 1972 to form the University of Sydney Union (USU).
SYDNEY UNI SPORT & FITNESS (SUSF)
Sydney Uni Sport & Fitness runs the University's representative, social and faculty sports programs. It also runs the campus gyms and the swimming pool ... visit the SUSF website.
Early sporting clubs from 1863, for men and women
It is thought that the first University sporting club formed was the football club dating from 1863.
The Football Club team in 1871, photo G3_224_0168, University of Sydney Archives.
The Football Club team in 1882, photo G3_224_0260, University of Sydney Archives.
The First Grade Football Team in 1905, photo G3_224_1935, University of Sydney Archives.
A cricket club was founded 1865, and in 1866 the Senate resolved that part of the University grounds be reserved temporarily as a cricket ground.
Student and staff cricket teams in 1896, photo G3_224_0004, University of Sydney Archives.
In the 1880s many new sporting clubs were founded, including the Boat Club in 1884 and the Athletic Club in 1885.
The most successful of the new clubs was the Tennis Club, also founded in 1885. The club was allocated four grass courts where the Quadrangle was situated, close to the Men’s and Ladies’ common rooms, allowing the men to watch the women playing and make disparaging comments on their game. In 1887 a separate Ladies’ Tennis Club was formed, the first women’s sporting club at the University.
A tennis group in 1889, photo G3_224_1260, University of Sydney Archives.
Women cricket and tennis teams 1890, photo G3_224_0005, University of Sydney Archives.
The first tennis team match between Sydney and Melbourne universities in 1909, photo G3_224_1433, University of Sydney Archives.
The Sydney University Men's Tennis team in 1913, photo, University of Sydney Archives.
Opening run of the University of Sydney Bicycle Club, 1897, photo G3/224/1548, University of Sydney Archives
Sydney University Sports Union 1890
Sydney University Sports Union (SUSU) was formed in 1890 for men students.
Sydney University Women’s Sports Association 1910
Women’s participation in sport at the University flourished in the early twentieth century and in 1910 the Sydney University Women’s Sports Association (SUWSA) was founded, followed by a campaign began for grounds and facilities for women’s sports.
In November 1911 the Buildings Grounds and Improvements Committee of the University recommended that three tennis courts be constructed for the women students in a position
to the east of the main front and between the curved path from the Derwent Street entrance and Parramatta Road (on the sloping ground in front of the main building). Senate granted not only the land but the cost of constructing the courts and also building, plumbing and outfitting the adjoining dressing room (later known as the Clubhouse). The courts were ready for play by 1913. These were the first purpose-built sporting facilities built specifically for the use of women.
The Hockey Club was formed in 1908 and in 1914 the SUWSA began a campaign to acquire a hockey ground. In 1916 the Senate granted the SUWSA’s application, allowing use of the ground known as the Square, which lay between the Oval and Manning House. The Hockey Square was ready for use by 1921.
The Women’s Hockey A Team, 1925, published in Hermes Volume 32, Number 3. Michaelmas 1926, photo, Rare Books and Special Collections, University of Sydney Library.
Amalgamation of the two unions into one, 2003
In 2003, SUSU and SUWSA amalgamated to form Sydney Uni Sport.
Several years later the name was changed to Sydney Uni Sport & Fitness.
STUDENTS' REPRESENTATIVE COUNCIL (SRC)
The SRC is the representative council for undergraduate students at Sydney University. The SRC also provides a number of advocacy and advice services to assist students. This includes legal representation, advice on housing and welfare, harassment and discrimination, academic appeals, assistance with AusStudy and Centrelink and consultation for financial assistance. The SRC also publishes the weekly student paper 'Honi Soit' ... visit the SRC website.
Sydney University Association 1887
Sydney University Association was founded in 1887 by a group of men undergraduates.
The Undergraduates' Association 1889
In 1889 it was renamed the Undergraduates' Association to more aptly describe its membership and it existed until 1929.
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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 ... more.
Formation of the SRC 1928
The proposed constitution of the SRC made membership compulsory and it was approved by a meeting of undergraduates on 8 November 1929. The constitution and the proposal for compulsory membership were both approved by the Senate on 9 December 1929, and the Students' Representative Council came into being, with 'Honi Soit' as its official newspaper and and James Murray Gosper elected as its first President.
The SRC was prominent in student campaigns against the war in Vietnam and numerous other political issues. It was also deeply involved in the campaign to create the separate Political Economy department within the School of Economics in the late 1970s.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Bill Elwood, an aboriginal member of the SRC, planted the aboriginal flag on the front lawn, officially opening the SRC's Aboriginal week in 1990, photo G77_1_0445, University of Sydney Archives.
SYDNEY UNIVERSITY POSTGRADUATE REPRESENTATIVE ASSOCIATION (SUPRA)
SUPRA is the postgraduate representative association at the University of Sydney. SUPRA is postgrads’ voice on campus and offers free advice and advocacy services as well as social and networking opportunities and publications ...visit the SUPRA website.
Formation of SUPRA 1974
Formed in 1970 by Science postgraduates, SUPRA was formally acknowledged by the University of Sydney Senate in 1974 after years of debate. Because most postgraduate students at the time were research students, the Students' Representative Council (SRC) considered them to be junior academics and had thus declined to admit them as members. SUPRA is the only organisation that has ever represented postgraduate students at the University of Sydney.
In 1979 SUPRA became a founding member of the Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations (CAPA), the peak body representing Australian postgraduate students.
Over the years SUPRA has grown from a small volunteer-based organisation to a much bigger one. SUPRA now employs a number of staff to assist elected representatives in the work of representing the interests of postgraduate students at all levels within the University and support individual postgraduates through the course of their study.
LB