Sydney School of Arts building facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Sydney School of Arts building
The façade of the former School of Arts building, pictured in 2014
Location	275–277a Pitt Street, Sydney central business district, City of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Built	1830–1861
Architect	John Verge
New South Wales Heritage Register
Official name: Sydney School of Arts; Sydney Mechanics' School of Arts; Arthouse Hotel
Type	State heritage (built)
Designated	2 April 1999
Reference no.	366
Type	School of arts
Category	Community facilities
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The Sydney School of Arts building is a very old and important building in Sydney. It is now known as the Arthouse Hotel. This building used to be a special place where people could learn and meet. It is located on Pitt Street in the heart of Sydney. The building was designed by John Verge and built between 1830 and 1861. It is also called the Sydney Mechanics' School of Arts. This building is so important that it was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register in 1999.

History of the School of Arts

The idea for the Sydney Mechanics' School of Arts came from Scotland. In the early 1800s, a man named George Birkbeck started giving free lessons to working men, often called "mechanics" back then. These lessons taught them about science and other useful things. This idea became very popular, leading to the first Mechanics' Institute opening in Glasgow in 1821. These institutes aimed to share knowledge with working-class people.

How the Sydney School Started

In 1830, a minister named John Dunmore Lang wanted to build a college in Australia. He needed skilled workers, so he sent his friend, Henry Carmichael, to Scotland to find them. In 1831, these workers sailed to Sydney on a ship called The Stirling Castle. During the journey, Carmichael taught them, hoping they would help start a similar learning place in Sydney.

They arrived in October 1831. About 18 months later, on March 22, 1833, the Sydney Mechanics' School of Arts was officially started. Its goal was to help its members learn and grow in literature, science, and art. For many years, the school offered classes for both men and women. They learned about chemistry, history, and even how to choose a horse! Famous people like Rev Samuel Marsden and future Prime Minister Sir Edmund Barton were involved.

Finding a Home for Learning

At first, the School of Arts had trouble finding a permanent home. But in 1836, they began to lease land on Pitt Street. Plans for a new building were approved, and on February 6, 1838, the new building was used for the first time. It had a theatre, a lecture room, a museum, and a library. The theatre was on the ground floor, and the library was upstairs.

In 1845, the School bought the land it was on. They also added more rooms for the librarian. Later, in 1855, they bought the Independent Chapel next door and made it part of the School of Arts.

The original building needed a lot of repairs. So, in 1855, it was decided to rebuild parts of it instead of just fixing it. The architect John Bibb drew up plans. The foundation stone for the new facade was laid in December 1859. The front of the building was finished in April 1860. The rebuilding happened in two stages so the school could keep running. The old chapel was rebuilt and became the main lecture hall by September 1862.

Growing and Changing Education

The School of Arts started as a place for learning and fun, especially for science and technical drawing. As Sydney grew and industries developed, learning became even more important. Mechanics' Institutes helped people improve themselves and contribute to the colony's growth.

In 1873, there was talk of starting a Technical College for working men. By 1877, plans were made to build it behind the School of Arts. This college would offer special technical education. A famous engineer named Norman Selfe supported this idea.

The first part of the college building was finished in 1878, and the second part in 1879. Because of money problems, the college struggled until 1888. Then, the government took over running it. This college eventually became the Sydney Technical College, which later turned into the University of Technology Sydney.

After the college moved out, the School of Arts went back to its original purpose. In 1887, architect John Smedley redesigned parts of the building. They added a Ladies Reading Room, a Smoke Room, and a stage in the lecture theatre. These changes were finished in 1888. To make more money, shops were added to the front of the building on Pitt Street in 1896.

The 20th Century and Today

By the 1930s, the School of Arts faced challenges. Other learning centers had opened, and government funding was reduced. Membership numbers dropped. By the 1970s, the building was difficult to maintain.

In 1992, a group bought the building's mortgage. With these funds, the School of Arts bought another building nearby on Pitt Street. They moved their main operations, including their large library, into three floors of this new building.

Today, the historic Sydney School of Arts building has been beautifully restored. It is now known as the Arthouse Hotel, a popular meeting place, restaurant, and bar.

Building Description

The building has two main floors and is made of sandstone. The ground floor has changed a lot over the years. The front of the building, called the façade, shows a simple but elegant classical style. This style is from the late Georgian period and is quite rare in Sydney now.

Building Condition

As of August 2025, the building is in good physical condition.

Changes Over Time

The building has seen many changes since it was first built:

• 1830: The Independent Chapel was built.
• 1836: Construction began on the original Sydney Mechanics' School of Arts (SMSA) building.
• 1838: The SMSA building was first used.
• 1845-1855: The building had constant repairs and renovations, including roof work and cleaning.
• 1855: The Independent Chapel was bought by the SMSA and became part of it.
• Around 1855-1857: The old theatre was turned into a reading room, and the chapel became the new lecture theatre.
• 1859: The foundation stone for the new facade was laid.
• 1860: The new facade was completed.
• 1860-1862: The building was rebuilt in two stages, including new stonework, corridors, and a rebuilt lecture hall.
• 1878-1879: The Technical or Working Men's College was built at the back of the SMSA.
• 1883: The Working Men's College was transferred to the government.
• 1887-1888: The SMSA accommodation was redesigned, adding a Ladies Reading Room, a Smoke Room, and a stage.
• 1896: Shops were added to the Pitt Street front, and the library and offices were moved.

Heritage Importance

The School of Arts building is a very important part of Sydney's history and cultural growth. It has been on this site since 1837. It hosted many important early cultural and educational activities. For example, it offered some of the first drawing courses for Australian architects. It also saw the first performance of a Gilbert and Sullivan musical in Sydney. The building is directly connected to the start of the Sydney Technical College.

The front of the building, its facade, is a great example of 19th-century design. It shows the skill of John Bibb as an architect from that time. The inside of the building still has beautiful details from the 1800s, like plasterwork and skylights. The parts of the old 1830 chapel that remain show how buildings were reused and adapted.

The School of Arts was a key learning and social hub for Sydney's smart people in the 1800s. Its design and spaces still show what life was like back then. Important people, including the Governor, supported it. Leading citizens like J.H. Goodlet and Norman Selfe were on its committee.

Before the government took over, the School of Arts was the main place for technical education in New South Wales.

The Sydney School of Arts was officially listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register on April 2, 1999.

See also

• Sydney Mechanics' School of Arts