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  1. The Dictionary of Sydney
  2. Freyne, Catherine

Freyne, Catherine

Author

Catherine Freyne produces social history documentaries at ABC Radio National. In 2009 she was a Dictionary of Sydney writer sponsored by the Sydney Mechanics' School of Arts

McKenzie, Violet as Author
Selfe, Norman as Author
Sydney Technical College as Author
The School of Arts movement as Author

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McKenzie, Violet

A pioneer in Australian radio and electrical engineering, Violet McKenzie had a lifetime commitment to technical education and training, especially for women.

Selfe, Norman

Engineer, naval architect, inventor, urban visionary and advocate of technical education, Norman Selfe was one of Sydney's most energetic and civic-minded citizens. His vision for Sydney included a harbour crossing decades before the Harbour Bridge was built, and an independent system of technical education long before the advent of TAFE. During his lifetime, his efforts were not successful, but many of his innovative ideas were later realised.

Sydney Technical College

From its beginnings as an adjunct to the Sydney Mechanics' School of Arts, Sydney Technical College provided the technical skills needed for Sydney's industrial development, as well as accessible and affordable higher and further education for Sydney's working people.

The School of Arts movement

During the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, about 140 schools of arts or mechanics' institutes were established in Sydney by volunteers. They were independent community organisations, assisted by a small government subsidy, and they thrived as centres of local community life. Today, their legacy in Sydney is more than just the surviving buildings. Out of these humble voluntary operations developed the local public library, the modern community or neighbourhood centre, and formal systems of adult and technical education.