5 things you probably didn’t know about the University of Sydney

These five stories are part of the 70 Years, 70 Stories series, which is a curated collection of 70 items that highlight the breadth and depth of the University Archives’ collections and the special, sometimes hidden, stories behind them.

First female graduates

In 1885, Isola Florence Thompson and Mary Elizabeth Brown became the first two females to graduate from the University of Sydney. Both graduating with a Bachelor of Arts, they went on to enter the teaching profession.

Two years later, in 1887, while still working as a member of staff at Sydney Girls High School, Thompson became the first woman to graduate MA (Honours) from the University.

The graduation booklet (left) displaying Thompson's name is the oldest graduation booklet held by the University Archives.

The National Standards Laboratory

The facade of the Madsen Building still reveals its original occupant – the National Standards Laboratory, part of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (now the Commonwealth for Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)).

The building was designed and constructed by the Department of the Interior Works between 1939 and 1944 and represented the conjoint efforts of the University and the Government to collaboratively conduct research on matters of national importance.

The relationship between the institutions, however, was not always amicable. On 20 July 1951, JL Pawsey of the CSIRO wrote to the University and noted: "It has been found desirable to erect an elevated apron...I hope that you will have no objection to the erection of this structure."

It appears, however, that the CSIRO did not wait for the University's approval as ten days later on 30 July 1951, the University responded:

In view of the circumstances, the University will not require removal of the apron, but would appreciate being consulted before any other extensions or alterations are made to the temporary buildings associated with the Radiophysics building. At the same time I am directed to remind you that the University proposes to enforce the condition under which permission was granted for the erection of temporary structures, namely that they would be removed within one year from the formal cessation of hostilities.

The University attempted to reclaim the building in 1964, writing to the CSIRO:

When the National Standards Laboratory was first established on this site, it was located in an area of the University which was far removed from the geographic centre of the University. Our building programme since 1958 and our expansion into the Special Uses Area beyond City Road has changed the geographic centre of the University, which now is clearly located somewhere in the vicinity of the City Road gates. I think it is quite clear that the building should be used for University purposes as quickly as possible.

The matter of acquiring the building stalled for over a decade until a letter from the CSIRO confirmed their move to Bradfield Park in 1977, which enabled the official handover of the Madsen Building to the University of Sydney.

The royal visitors

His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, visited the University on 4 February 1954.

The Acting Vice-Chancellor reported to Senate on 10 August 1953 that "His Royal Highness will be at the University for approximately 1 1/2 hours and will be entertained at lunch in the Great Hall by Fellows of the Senate of the University of Sydney and Members of the Council of the New South Wales University of Technology."

The Royal Visit 1954 Working Program specified the requirement for all concerned to "synchronise with A.B.C. Time Signals commencing at 11 am," in anticipation of Prince Philip departing for the University at 12:55 pm and travelling via Macquarie Street, College Street, Wentworth Avenue, Hay Street, Pitt Street, Railway Square, Broadway, and Parramatta Road to arrive at 1:10 pm.

As soon as Prince Philip exited his car, his Standard was to be unfurled on the Carillon Tower, and the Carillon was to be played during his visit. The Working Program also prepared for wet weather with an alternative plan to have Prince Philip arrive at the entrance to the northern vestibule instead of the Carillon Tower, and for umbrellas to be "provided for the protection of His Royal Highness and staff."

The Chancellor received a letter dated 7 April 1954 from the SS Gothic, the royal yacht from 1952 to 1954, which stated that an ME Adean was "commanded by The Queen to convey to you and to all the members of the University of Sydney Her Majesty's warm thanks for their Address of loyalty."

The grandstand inferno

On 28 May 1975, the grandstand at Oval No. 1 went up in flames and, despite best efforts, was destroyed within 30 minutes.

The week after the inferno, the front page of the University of Sydney News declared that the grandstand “bowed out with one of the most spectacular performances seen at No. 1 Oval in recent years."

The article added that “despite last minute efforts to apply to dampers, it was no match for its fiery opponent, and in a blistering 30 minutes the game was over."

"Before its defeat", $100,000 renovations were planned for the grandstand, however the destruction of the structure saw the University confronted with costs amounting to more than $250,000 to replace the ruined building.

The May 1969 incident

On 5 May 1969, Senate discussed the matter of the "Disturbances within University on 1st May, 1969".

The minutes from the Senate meeting noted that the "Vice-Chancellor referred to the demonstration and disturbances on the afternoon of 1st May, 1969 in the presence of the Governor of New South Wales who in extremely difficult circumstances had inspected a guard of honour provided by the Sydney University Regiment before attending a Ceremony of Conferring of Degrees at which he gave the occasional address."

Jim Spigelman, President of the Students' Representative Council (SRC) reported:

At lunch time on the 30th April a meeting was held in the front lawn to announce plans for a demonstration against the Sydney University Regiment... the protestor group intended to sit down in the path of the Regiment allowing it to avoid the demonstrators or to march into them. This sit-down, it was asserted, would be the only action taken… Ross Clark, dressed in mock military outfit, presented an amusing imitation of the Governor or to be more exact, the Governorship… Towards the latter part of Clark's speech a barrage of fruit, milk cartons and flour bombs etc. began from a group in front of the speaker and to his right… a scuffle broke out, punches were thrown and the crown surged forward… This led to a continuation of the scuffles between the two groups of students resulting in the unfortunate public image of a violent demonstration against the Governor... Instead of disbanding when their point had been made by sitting in front of the march, some members of the group continued their 'protest' at the inspection of the guard. In this way the Governor became the centre of the continuing storm.

The student body and the University in general were certainly discredited, sometimes vociferously, as members of the public felt offended enough to respond in writing. Commander CG Little made his disappointment known:

As an ex member of the defence forces of this nation, a taxpayer, and one of those whose father and grandfathers helped to build up this country, I am shocked at the violence, disorderly conduct, and utter lack of discipline evident in your university, resulting in the shameful attack yesterday on our Governor. Have the university Council no pride in their establishment at all? It is considered that these louts responsible are utterly unsuited for tertiary education, and should be expelled.

Other letters continued in a similar vein. J Marshall provided the University with a proposal: "In view of the events of last week, I suggest you institute a chair in thuggery. It would appear that a large number of your students would have no difficulty in passing with first class honours."

At its 5 May 1969 meeting Senate approved "that an appropriate message be conveyed to His Excellency the Governor expressing the very great regret of the Senate that he had been subjected to such indignity during his visit to the University."

The University Archives

The University Archives is the oldest of its kind in Australia.

Established in 1954, with the appointment of David Neil Stirling Macmillan as University Archivist (the first qualified archivist in an Australian university), the Archives team are responsible for the care and preservation of the University's administrative records such as those of the University's key governing bodies and offices.

The University Archives also hold audio-visual media, photographs, and publications documenting the University since the early 1850s as well as a significant collection of personal papers of people closely associated with the University.

Visit the University of Sydney Archives website to view their collections.

Top 100

The University Archives is located on Level 9 of the Fisher Library and is open to all by appointment only. You can, however, drop by their GL Fischer Search Room to view the Top 100 wall, a collection of 100 photographs, especially selected and curated by the University Archives staff. These are their favourite photographs from the collection. What will yours be?

History Hike

There are so many more stories about the University to be discovered across our Camperdown/Darlington Campus, so get your walking shoes on and head on the History Hike with the Archives.

Look for the University of Sydney Archives orange decals on the ground and explore the history of the University.

Banner image: Students Relaxing in Quadrangle (No Date), [REF-00088423]. University of Sydney Archives, accessed 17/04/2024, https://archives-search.sydney.edu.au/nodes/view/141182.