University history, architecture and tours

The University campus is full of places of interest.

As Australia’s first University, the history of the University is very much intertwined with the history of our city, our country and all the personal histories of those who have passed through our halls.

Our history is enshrined in the famous sandstone buildings that make up the Quadrangle, including the Great Hall, designed by Edmund Blacket in 1854. It has also been the site of many graduations and features prominently in the fondest memories of our many students.

The Nicholson Collection (now housed in the Chau Chak Wing Museum) was founded by Sir Charles Nicholson, our second chancellor, in 1860, making it the oldest university (art and artefacts) collection in Australia.

The famous Graffiti Tunnel, which was originally part of student protests against the Vietnam War, has become a living work of art. In 2016, it was also used to film scenes in a Jackie Chan movie.

“If archaeologists could scrape away each layer, recording as they went, an extraordinarily rich vein of the University's social life would spring to life," wrote Trevor Howells, former senior lecturer, in his book University of Sydney Architecture.

Learn how our campus is changing and transforming, come on campus for a heritage tour or join any of our short courses, which are open to anyone to enrol.

We hope you can join us online or in-person, and continue in the shared learning that defines our community and history.