Sydney Mechanics' School of Arts

This article is about the non-profit organisation. For the building that formerly housed the Sydney Mechanics' School of Arts and known as the Arthouse Hotel, see Sydney School of Arts building.

Sydney Mechanics' School of Arts
AbbreviationSMSA
Formation1833; 191 years ago (1833)
FounderHenry Carmichael[1]
TypeNon-profit
Location
Coordinates33°52′27″S 151°12′29″E / 33.87418°S 151.20818°E / -33.87418; 151.20818
ServicesAdult education
Websitesmsa.org.au

The Sydney Mechanics' School of Arts (SMSA) is the longest running School of Arts (also known as a "Mechanics' Institute") and the oldest continuous lending library in Australia.[2]

Founded in 1833, the school counted many of the colony's educated elite as members, and quickly positioned itself as a centre for social change and intellectual life of the city of Sydney with a program of public lectures, courses, lending library and other activities based on its mission of adult education. Now in new premises, the SMSA continues to offer public education programs and grants today. In 2011, the SMSA opened The Tom Keneally Centre, which holds the research collection of world-renowned author Thomas Keneally from his private collection and memorabilia.[3]

  1. ^ "Our History". smsa.org.au. Sydney Mechanics' School of Arts. Archived from the original on 16 November 2012. Retrieved 5 December 2012.
  2. ^ "Sydney Mechanics' School of Arts". Dictionary of Sydney. 2008. Archived from the original on 23 March 2014. Retrieved 3 December 2012.
  3. ^ "About the Tom Keneally Centre". smsa.org.au. Sydney Mechanics' School of Arts. Archived from the original on 21 April 2013. Retrieved 5 December 2012.