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
Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).

The Sydney School of Arts building, now known as the Arthouse Hotel, is a historic building in Sydney. It used to be a special place where people could learn and meet. Today, it's a popular restaurant and bar. You can find it on Pitt Street in the heart of Sydney central business district. This building was designed by John Verge and built between 1830 and 1861. It's also called the Sydney Mechanics' School of Arts and is listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register because of its important history.

A Place for Learning

The idea for the Sydney Mechanics' School of Arts (SMSA) started in Scotland. In the early 1800s, a professor named George Birkbeck began giving free lessons to working men in Glasgow. These lessons became very popular, leading to the first Mechanics' Institute opening in 1821. The main goal was to share scientific and useful knowledge with working people.

Bringing the Idea to Sydney

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, and about 18 months later, on March 22, 1833, the Sydney Mechanics' School of Arts was officially started. Its aim was to help people improve their minds and learn about literature, science, and art. For many years, the SMSA offered classes for both men and women, covering many subjects.

What People Learned

Early lessons at the SMSA covered interesting topics like chemistry, history, and astronomy. But they also taught everyday skills, like how to choose a horse or how to speak politely. Soon, women could join classes too, learning everything from public speaking to simple first aid.

Many important people were involved with the school. The Rev Samuel Marsden was a member, and future Prime Minister Sir Edmund Barton practiced his debating skills there. The famous explorer Ludwig Leichhardt even gave lectures. For almost a century, the school was a busy and important place for learning.

Finding a Home

When the SMSA first started, it was hard to find a permanent place for meetings and classes. But in 1836, they began to lease land on Pitt Street, next to a church. Plans for a new building were approved, and on February 6, 1838, the new SMSA building was used for the first time.

The building had a theatre, a lecture room, a museum, and a library. The theatre was on the ground floor, and the library and reading room were upstairs. In 1845, the SMSA bought the land and added more rooms for the librarian.

Later, in 1855, the church next door was put up for sale. The SMSA quickly bought it and made it part of their building. This meant they had more space for their growing activities.

Building Changes and Growth

Between 1845 and 1855, the original SMSA building needed a lot of repairs. In 1855, it was decided that it would be better to rebuild parts of the building rather than just fix them. The old theatre was turned into a reading room, and the former church became a new lecture hall.

New plans for rebuilding were drawn up by John Bibb. The foundation stone for the new facade was laid by Governor Sir William Denison in December 1859. The front of the building was finished in April 1860. The rebuilding work happened in two stages so the school could keep running. The first stage, finished in 1861, included new stonework, corridors, and a library on the ground floor. The second stage, completed in September 1862, involved rebuilding the lecture hall.

As Sydney grew, so did the need for more specialized education. In 1873, there was talk of starting a Technical or Working Men's College. This college would teach technical skills, which were becoming very important as industries developed.

In 1877, a building for this new college was constructed behind the SMSA. This college eventually became the Sydney Technical College, which later grew into the University of Technology Sydney.

After the college moved, the SMSA went back to focusing on literature and recreation. In 1887, the building was redesigned again. A Ladies Reading Room, a Smoke Room, and a stage were added. To help with money, shops were also built into the front of the Pitt Street building in 1896.

Modern Times

By the 1930s, the SMSA faced challenges as other education centers took over its role. Its membership dropped. In the 1970s, the building was in trouble. A developer named Alan Bond tried to buy it, but his company had problems.

In 1992, a Japanese group bought the mortgage. With the money from this, the SMSA bought another building nearby at 280 Pitt Street. They moved their main operations there, taking up three floors, and rented out other parts of the building.

Today, the original Sydney School of Arts building has been beautifully restored and is now known as the Arthouse Hotel. It's a reminder of Sydney's past and how education for everyone became so important.

Building Details

The building has a two-storey front made of sandstone. The ground floor has been changed quite a bit over the years. The front of the building shows a simple but elegant classical style, which was common in Sydney in the past but is now rare.

Condition of the Building

As of 1997, the building was in good physical condition.

Changes Over Time

• 1830: The Independent Chapel was built next door.
• 1836: Construction began on the original Sydney Mechanics School of Arts (SMSA) building.
• 1838: The SMSA building was first used.
• 1845-1855: The building needed constant repairs and renovations.
• 1855: The Independent Chapel was bought by the SMSA and became part of it.
• Around 1855-1857: The old theatre became a reading room, and the chapel was used as a new lecture hall.
• 1859: The foundation stone for the new facade was laid.
• 1860: The new facade was completed.
• 1860-1861: The first stage of rebuilding took place, including new stonework and changes inside.
• 1861-1862: The second stage, rebuilding the lecture hall, was finished.
• 1878-1879: The Technical or Working Men's College was built behind the SMSA.
• 1887-1888: The SMSA building was redesigned, adding a Ladies Reading Room and a Smoke Room.
• 1896: Shops were added to the Pitt Street front, and the library was moved.

Why It's Important

The School of Arts building is a very important part of Sydney's history. It has been on this site since 1837 and was a key place for early cultural and educational activities. For example, it offered some of the first drawing courses for Australian architects and hosted the first performance of a Gilbert and Sullivan musical in Sydney. It also played a direct role in the creation of the Sydney Technical College.

The front of the building is a great example of 19th-century Sydney architecture. It shows the skill of John Bibb as a designer. The inside of the building still has original details like plasterwork and skylights from the 1800s. The fact that parts of the 1830 chapel are still there shows how buildings can be reused and adapted over time.

The School of Arts was a major learning and social hub for educated people in Sydney during the 1800s. Important leaders, like the Governor, were its patrons, and well-known citizens served 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, recognizing its special historical value.

See also

• Sydney Mechanics' School of Arts