Sydney School of Arts building

The Sydney Mechanics' School of Arts traces its origins to Scotland. In 1800, at the Anderson Institute in Glasgow, George Birkbeck had been appointed Professor of Natural Philosophy. He started giving free talks to working men (then called mechanics). Over the course of the next 20 years these became increasingly popular so in 1821 he opened the first Mechanics' Institute in Glasgow. In the same year a School of Arts was opened in Edinburgh. The aims of both were identical, the diffusion of scientific and other useful knowledge to the working classes. bought out the mortgage and with the now substantial funds the Board purchased 280 Pitt Street (an 11-storey office block from 1925) from the Uniting Church, refurbished it as a new home for the SMSA (which occupies three floors) and created offices and retail spaces on other floors. The Sydney School of Arts building underwent a transformation as part of the Galeries Victoria development. Many of the original features of the reading rooms, library, halls and Independent Chapel were retained in the new pub called the "Arthouse Hotel" which now occupied the site. In 1999 the building was added to the NSW State Heritage Register. == Description ==

A two-storey sandstone façade. The ground floor has been drastically altered. The façade is an example of restrained classicism in the Palladian style and is typical of late Georgian sandstone elevations now rare in Sydney. Condition As at 26 August 1997, the physical condition of the building was good. Modifications and dates • 1830 - Independent Chapel built for Congregationalists by John verge • 1836 Original Sydney Mechanics School of Arts (SMSA) commenced construction around April • 1838 - SMSA building first used 6 February • 1838/39 Two rooms erected at rear SMSA on southern side: completed 7 January 1839 • 1849 Completion of two rooms at rear of building, northern end for Librarians "private apartments" early this year • 1845-55 Constant renovation and repair: including roof reshingled, interior and exterior wall cleaned, gutters cleaned, skylight repaired, water supplied to building. • 1855 Independent Chapel advertised for sale 7 January: purchased by Trustees and incorporated into SMSA. • -7 Old theatre in original building converted to a Reading Room and opening created through to the chapel; Chapel then used as new Lecture Theatre. • 1858-62 Bibb asked to prepare plans for new building 5 August 1858. • 1859 Foundation stone laid on 19 December. • 1860 Façade completed late April, though remainder of plan not carried out. • 1860 Plans prepared by Bibb for rebuilding in 2 stages. • 1860-1 Stage 1 - stonework and most alterations except new hall commenced September and finished late January 1861. Included narrow corridors giving access to various rooms; Library and Reading Room located on ground floor; classrooms and Librarian's accommodation reduced; three single sets of stairs. • 1861-2 Stage 2 - rebuilding lecture hall (former Independent Chapel) commenced December, 1861, and completed 6 September 1862. • 1878-9 Technical or Working Men's College, designed by Benjamin Backhouse, constructed at rear of SMSA: Stage 1 completed October 1878; Stage 2, alterations to building, completed March 1879. • 1883 Late 1883, Working Men's College transferred to Board of Technical Education: SMSA reverted to a place of literary and recreational pursuits. • 1887-8 John Smedley engaged to redesign SMSA accommodation in 1887: alterations also included provision of a Ladies Reading Room, a Smoke Room and the addition of a stage in Bibb's lecture theatre. Alterations completed September, 1888. • 1896 Shops incorporated into Pitt Street front (architect A. McQueen). Also included relocation of Library, Ladies Reading Room and Secretary's office. Completed June, 1896. == Heritage listing ==

As at 20 October 2004, the School of Arts building is an important link in the history of Sydney's cultural growth. It has stood on the present site since 1837, and has seen important early cultural and educational activities, including the first courses in drawing for Australian trained architects, and the first performance of a Gilbert and Sullivan musical in Sydney. It is directly linked with the formation of Sydney Technical College. Sydney School of Arts was listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999. == See also ==