Sesquicentenary 1999-2002

Photo gallery: Sesquicentenary Celebration Day, 13 October 2002

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.

The University's Sesquicentenary Celebration Day was held on 13 October 2002. It commemorated the arrival of the first students and the presentation of the first lectures (October 1852) and the inauguration of the University (11 October 1852).

Photographs are courtesy of ZOOM Productions.

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James Morrison Sextet

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Tim Freedman

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Celebration of the First Lectures delivered by the original Professors of the University

• Above: Celebration of the First Lectures delivered by the original Professors of the University - in General Lecture Theatre 1, Quadrangle. View enlargement

• Above: Celebration of the First Lectures delivered by the original Professors of the University - in General Lecture Theatre 1, Quadrangle. View enlargement

The University's 150th birthday cake

• Above: The University's 150th birthday cake.

• Above: Vice-Chancellor Professor Gavin Brown and Deputy Chancelor Renata Kaldor cutting the cake.

• Above: The crowd looking forward to birthday cake.

Official opening of the heritage stairs linking the University of Sydney Campus with Victoria Park

• Above: Vice-Chancellor Professor Gavin Brown introducing the Mayor of South Sydney Council for the offical opening of the heritage stairs. View enlargement

• Above: Mayor of South Sydney Council speaking before cutting the ribbon and declaring the stairs open. View enlargement

• Above: The audience. View enlargement

• Above: Vice-Chancellor Professor Gavin Brown, the Mayor of South Sydney Council, Tony Pooley cutting the ribbon and Deputy Chancellor Renata Kaldor.

• Above: Vice-Chancellor Professor Gavin Brown, the Mayor of South Sydney Council, Tony Pooley and Deputy Chancellor Renata Kaldor after the ribbon was cut. View enlargement

• Above: Vice-Chancellor Professor Gavin Brown, the Mayor of South Sydney Council, Tony Pooley and Deputy Chancellor Renata Kaldor. View enlargement

• Above: Vice-Chancellor Professor Gavin Brown, the Mayor of South Sydney Council, Tony Pooley and Deputy Chancellor Renata Kaldor. View enlargement

Canvas

• Above: Among the many Union activities was the creation of a huge canvas, to be presented to the University, to which more than 200 visitors added a brush stroke.

Australia Post Sesquicentenary Envelope

• Above: Australia Post Sesquicentenary Envelope.