Sesquicentenary 1999-2002

The University of Sydney Sesquicentenary publication: "Celebrating 150 Years"

The University of Sydney Sesquicentenary celebrations commenced in 1999 and commemorated various important phases in the foundation of the University. These included: the speech made in Parliament on 6 September 1849 by William Charles Wentworth advocating a university for Sydney; the passage through the NSW legislature of the Act of Incorporation on 1 October 1850; the first Senate meeting on 3 February 1851; and the arrival of the first students and the presentation of the first lectures in October 1852 and the inauguration of the University on 11 October 1852.

One of the projects that formed part of the University of Sydney's Sesquicentenary activities was the production of a book on the University: Celebrating 150 Years. This Sesquicentenary project was undertaken in association with Focus Publishing Pty Ltd, the leading Australian publisher of this type whose many other publications include volumes to mark milestones in the history of the Mitchell Library, Qantas and Australia Post.

Photo gallery

Photographs, courtesy University of Sydney Development Office

• Above: Mr Steven Rich, Focus Publishing, welcomed guests. View enlargement.

• Above: Mr Steven Rich. View enlargement.

• Above: Vice-Chancellor Professor Gavin Brown spoke about the sesqui project, and introduced Dr Anne Summers AO, eminent graduate and Chair of Greenpeace's International Board.View enlargement.

• Above: Dr Anne Summers launching the book.View enlargement.

• Above: Dr Anne Summers. View enlargement.

• Above: Dr Anne Summers.

• Above: Dr Anne Summers and Professor Gavin Brown. View enlargement.