The University of Sydney - The University of Sydney School of Medicine
Online Museum

From Faculty of Medicine Online Museum and Archive

In 1852, John Smith was appointed Foundation Professor of Chemistry and Experimental Physics at the University of Sydney, the first Professor of Chemistry in Australia. Smith was appointed Dean of the Faculty of Medicine in 1856 and became a Fellow of Senate in 1861. The University Archives hold a splendid collection of historic photographs of the University and Sydney surrounds taken between 1855 and 1880 by Smith. He was an exceptionally talented amateur photographer, one of the first in this country, and his photographs have historical significance in the development of the visual arts in Australia.

These are a selection of photographs that have been restored. Many more can be viewed in our University Archives.

Click on each image to view it full screen size or commence a slideshow. Captions will disply with full size image.

Sydney: View of the Observatory from the North Shore. (Kirribilli).	Sydney: View of the Observatory from the North Shore. (Kirribilli).	Sydney: Harbour's edge; North Shore. (Kirribilli).	Sydney: Bushland at Harbour's edge.	Quiberee; Robert Gilfillan's House on the North Shore. (Lavender Bay).	Sydney: possibly Clontarf.
Sydney: possibly Clontarf.	Sydney: possibly Lane Cove River.	Sydney: possibly Lane Cove River.	Blue Mountains: Group of four people outside weatherboard cottage.	Unknown man in checked coat seated on chair.	Sydney: Governor Bourke's statue with scaffolding.
Sydney: Statue of Prince Albert	University under construction, doorway of Great Hall.	University under construction, doorway of Great Hall.	University under construction, stoneworker in front of the window of main building.	University under construction, carving the gargoyles.	University under construction, John Smith timing exposure.
University under construction, builders and observers.	Professor Woolley's residence, interior, woman with statues.	University of Sydney, view toward Great hall and north range from east.	University of Sydney, view of Main Buildings from south east.	University of Sydney, Clock Tower and centre section of Main Buildings from northwest.	University of Sydney, view of the Main Buildings from Parramatta Road.
Self-portrait, Professor John Smith in a laboratory.	Group of ten people on verandah.	Terraces in Macquarie Street, close to Professor Smith's lodgings.	On verandah of Macquarie Street terrace, close to Professor Smith's lodgings.	William Wright and friends at Drummoyne Park. Group on verandah.	William Wright and friends at Drummoyne Park, in garden.
William Wright and friends at Drummoyne Park, Drummoyne House with pergola.	William Wright and friends at Drummoyne Park. Northwest corner of garden, Drummoyne House.	Nurse with baby, 'Entally House', Hadspen near Launceston.	William Wright and friends at Drummoyne Park, on verandah of Drummoyne House.	Drummoyne House in the 1860s.