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Robert Bald - Certificate of honorary membership in the Sydney Mechanics' School of Arts, 1842

From the collections of the
State Library of New South Wales
[a128341 / MLDOC 1113]
(Mitchell Library)

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Barney, George Sydney Mechanics' School of Arts The School of Arts movement
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Sydney Mechanics' School of Arts
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Barney, George

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State Library of New South Wales

Barney, George

As the first Colonial Engineer, Captain George Barney aimed to strengthen Sydney's harbour defences, overseeing the design and construction of many major infrastructure projects, some of which still stand today, including Circular Quay and Fort Denison.

Sydney Mechanics' School of Arts

Founded in 1833 on the model of Scottish Mechanics' Institutes, the SMSA sought to provide further education for working men through lectures, classes and a library. Many of Sydney's foremost intellectuals, inventors and innovators were associated with it, and it influenced the development of both the University of Sydney and technical education in New South Wales. It still provides a library and lectures to Sydneysiders in 2009.

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.

Schools of Arts

Sydney Mechanics' School of Arts

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The oldest School of Arts in Sydney was founded to provide further education for working people and has done so since its inception in 1833.

Barney, George

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Soldier and engineer who became Colonial Engineer under Governor Bourke.