The Dictionary of Sydney was archived in 2021.

Mechanics' business

2012
The new Workmen's College at the Sydney Mechanics School of Arts in the Illustrated Sydney News, 14 June 1879, p 4 'The room is fitted up with all manner of scientific apparatus and specimens of nature, among which we noticed the double head of a calf which had four eyes, three ears, and two noses, all tolerably perfect.'
Some more products of our very successful joint project with the Sydney Mechanics' School of Arts have been added to the Dictionary. Mark Dunn, our writer-in-residence, has written a history of the site and the building which form the current home of the SMSA, Lincoln House. While the building has only recently housed Sydney's oldest Mechanics' School, it has a story of its own, and it's a fascinating snapshot of the changing commercial uses of city property. House, furniture workshop, ironmongery, garage, bicycle factory and showroom, offices and now School of Arts, the site has had a chequered career. Mark has also outlined the history of the Bondi-Waverley School of Arts, founded twice, like quite a few others. In reading the story, one can see how important a dedicated building is, to create an ongoing organisation and a sense of continuity. Our project with the SMSA is nearly at an end and we thank them for their support over the last three years. It has been great working with the writers-in-residence, Mark DunnĀ  and before him, Catherine Freyne, and has produced a notable body of new scholarship on a series of related topics. A few more articles are still in the pipeline and will appear during 2012. You can find all the SMSA-sponsored articles here.
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