Archibald Liversidge (1846-1927)

Background

Archibald Liversidge was born on the 17th of November 1846 at Turnham Green, London. In 1872 he took up an appointment as reader in Geology and Assistant in the Laboratory at the University of Sydney. In 1874 he became professor of geology and mineralogy at the same institution.

When Liversidge first arrived at Sydney University he had about ten students and two rooms in the main building but by 1879 he had persuaded the senate to open a faculty of science and was its first dean from 1879-1907.

In 1880 he visited Europe as a trustee of the Australian Museum and published his Report upon certain Museums for Technology Science and Art and from this helped to establish the Industrial, Technological and Sanitary Museum which formed the basis of the present Powerhouse Museums collection.

Liversidge was also played a major role in the setting up of the Australian Association for the Advancement of Science which held its first congress in 1888.

For all these achievements Liversidge was a somewhat shy and retiring man and never married. He returned to London after his retirement in 1907 and died from a heart attack on the 26th of September 1927.

The Liversidge collection at the Macleay Museum includes whole and half glass plate negatives of the building of the University of Sydney, chemistry experiments, the school of mines, interior and exterior views of the designer house "The Octagon", mineral specimens, and portraits. Although these images are attributed to the Liversidge collection it is probable that many were taken by his good friend and amateur photographer Hufton. The Liversidge collection also includes several stereo daguerreotypes.

Interior "The Octagon"	Portrait c1905	Gold Specimen