Centenary 1950-1952

Photo gallery: Special Senate meeting, 5 February 1951

The University of Sydney Centenary celebrations commenced in 1950 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 inauguration of the University on 11 October 1852 and the arrival of the first students and the presentation of the first lectures in October 1852.

A Special Senate meeting was held at 3.45pm on Monday 5 February 1951 in the Senate Room at the University of Sydney in celebration of the first Senate meeting held on 3 February 1851.

Sydney Morning Herald photos, copies held by the University of Sydney Archives:

Opening the Special Meeting of Senate

• Above: Seated from left to right are Deputy Chancellor the Hon Mr Justice Roper; His Excellency the Governor of New South Wales, Lieutenant-General Sir John Northcott; Chancellor Sir Charles Bickerton Blackburn opening the Special Meeting of Senate; the Hon K W Street, Chief Justice of New South Wales; and Vice-Chancellor Emeritus Professor S H Roberts. Click here for the Chancellor's words, and here and here to view enlargements.

• Above: Close-up of Sir Charles Bickerton Blackburn.

Proposing the Resolution of Congratulation

• Above: The Right Hon Dr H V Evatt proposing the Resolution of Congratulation. Click here for the Resolution of Congratulation and here to view enlargement.

• Above: Close-up of the Right Hon Dr H V Evatt.

Seconding the Resolution of Congratulation

• Above: Dr C G McDonald seconding the Resolution of Congratulation. Click here for his seconding the Resolution of Congratulation and here to view enlargement.

• Above: Close-up of Dr C G McDonald.