About Senate

Senate history

Senate timeline – 1849 to the present

• 1849-1899
• 1900-1949
• 1950-1999
• 2000 - present

1849-1899:

1849

• 4 September 1849: William Charles Wentworth presented a petition to the Legislative Council from a majority of the proprietors of the Sydney College praying for the adoption of a measure to convert the College into a University.

1850

• 1 October 1850: The Act of Incorporation 1850 established the University of Sydney.
• 24 December 1850: 16 Fellows of Senate were by proclamation in the NSW Government Gazette.

1851

• 3 February 1851: The first meeting of Senate, chaired by William Charles Wentworth, was held in the Chambers of the Speaker of the NSW Legislative Council.
• 3 March 1851: The first Vice-Chancellor (Vice-Provost), Sir Charles Nicholson, was elected.
• 17 March 1851: The first Chancellor (Provost), Edward William Terrick Hamilton, was elected and the first Secretary, Dr Richard Greenup, was appointed.
• 10 April 1851: Senate meetings were now held in the former Sydney College, now Sydney Grammar School, in College Street.

1852

• 11 October 1852: The inauguration ceremony for the University of Sydney was held in the Hall of the former Sydney College.

1854

• 1854: The Mace, the symbol of the authority of Senate, was acquired in the name and on behalf of Queen Victoria.

1857

• 14 May 1857: The present Arms of the University were granted by the College of Heralds, London.
• 13 December 1857: The present Arms of the University were adopted by Senate.

1861

• 1861: The titles of Provost and Vice-Provost were altered to Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor respectively, although there was no change to their respective offices.

1900-1949:

1900

• 1900: The Act of incorporation 1850 was amended by subsequent Acts enlarging the scope of the University and the whole were consolidated in the University and University Colleges Act 1900.

1909

• 12 October 1909: The former Library room in the Main Building was to be fitted for meetings of Senate (Building and Grounds Committee minutes).

1911

• 6 February 1911: The first Senate meeting to be held in the Senate Room (formerly the Library).

1919

• 1919: Dame Constance Elizabeth D'Arcy was elected a graduate Fellow of Senate, the first woman to be elected to Senate.

1924

• 12 December 1924: The amendment of the University and University Colleges Act 1900 (as amended) on the recommendation of Senate received Royal Assent, providing that the Vice-Chancellor as Chief Executive Officer was appointed by Senate; the earlier elected position of Vice-Chancellor became the Deputy Chancellor.
• 1924: Sir Mungo William MacCallum was the first Vice-Chancellor appointed and Cecil Purser was the first Deputy Chancellor elected under the new executive arrangements.

1938

• 1938: The Senate Room was redecorated.

1943

• 1943: The first female Deputy Chancellor, Dame Constance Elizabeth D'Arcy took up office.

1950-1999:

1951

• 5 February 1951: A Special Senate meeting was held in celebration of the centenary of the first meeting of Senate on 3 February 1851.

1952

• 28 August 1952: A Senate Dinner to celebrate the University's Centenary was held in the Refectory of the University Union.
• 29 August 1952: A Ceremony of Conferring of Honorary degrees, part of the University's Centenary, was held in the Great Hall.

1955

• 1955: The title Vice-Chancellor was changed to Vice-Chancellor and Principal.

1990

• 1990: The University of Sydney Act 1989 replaced the University and University Colleges Act 1900 (as amended).
• 1 January 1990: Under the new University of Sydney Act 1989, the membership of Senate, previously 31, was now 22.

1991

• 1 June 1991: The first female Chancellor, Emeritus Professor Dame Leonie Kramer, took up office.

1997

• 4 August 1997: The first meeting of Senate was held in the refurbished Senate Room.

2000 - present:

2001

• 3 February 2001: A formal dinner celebrated the Sesquicentenary of the first meeting of Senate and paid tribute to the contribution of some 90 Fellows, past and present, who attended.

2002

• 11 October 2002: A ceremony was held to mark the Sesquicentenary of the inauguration of the University of Sydney.

2003

• 5 May 2003: Senate approved the establishment of the position of Pro Chancellor.

2007

• 1 June 2007: Her Excellency Professor Marie Bashir AC CVO, Governor of New South Wales, took up office as Chancellor.

2008

• 4 February 2008: Alan Cameron AM took up office as Deputy Chancellor.

• 11 July 2008: Dr Michael Spence took up office as Vice-Chancellor and Principal.

2012

• 16 December 2012: Her Excellency Professor Marie Bashir AC CVO, Governor of New South Wales, retired as Chancellor.