New South Wales State Conservatorium of Music

In 1912 the Minister for Public Instruction appointed a Committee of Advice to draw up a general plan for the establishment of an Academy of Fine Arts in this State. The Advisory Committee recommended the establishment of a Conservatorium under a Director with an Advisory Council comprising the Director, four professors and a representative of the teaching staff elected by the students. The institution was to embrace 'all branches of musical instruction', the commencement of a library and a system of examinations resulting in the award of certificates. Part of the Government House, the Old Government Stables in Macquarie Street - a Francis Greenway designed building, were allocated as premises for the Conservatorium and refitted for the purpose. In 1914 the position of Director was advertised world-wide and by May 1915 Mr Henri Verbrugghen occupied the position as first Director. On 6 May 1915 an inaugural concert was held to officially open the Conservatorium. By the end of 1915 teaching appointments were completed and classes commenced in March 1916 with an enrolment of 320 students. The objectives of the Conservatorium were to:

- provide a place where students could study under the best teachers available*provide a local and reputable examining body

- provide training for first-class instrumentalists

- through the State Orchestra, provide opportunities for citizens to hear the best music.

The orchestra was established through a subsidy from the State Government, it replaced the first Sydney Symphony Orchestra which was founded in 1908. In 1919 the Conservatorium High School was established to provide general education at secondary school level. The first diplomas were awarded in 1920. By 1929 the Conservatorium Orchestra had undertaken overseas tours and broadcast concerts. In 1935 the Opera School was opened; opera classes had been introduced in 1931. Through the next 30 years the Conservatorium expanded the number of courses available, organised more tours and concerts as well as undertaking building works. Branches were established at Newcastle in 1952 and Wollongong in 1972, activities in regional centres were also undertaken. From 1915 onward the Conservatorium had operated as an educational institution within the Ministry of Education. In 1962 a Committee was appointed to consider the future management and control of the Conservatorium. Following the report administration was vested in a Board of Governors established under the New South Wales State Conservatorium of Music Act (No. 5, 1965). This changed the status of the Conservatorium to a statutory body, the New South Wales State Conservatorium of Music, from 7 October 1966. The Board of Governors introduced permanent teaching staff, measures to standardise the granting of scholarships as well as increasing the amounts awarded. In 1970 the Board appealed to the Government for further changes to the Act in order for the Conservatorium to be recognised as a College of Advanced Education. In 1973 the administrative structure of the Conservatorium underwent a reorganisation and a number of Schools and Departments were established. In the following year the administration was transferred to the Ministry of Education and an agreement was made to maintain its status as an educational institution within a government department. In 1975 the NSW State Conservatorium of Music (Amendment) Act was passed, amendments to the Board of Governors included an expansion to include staff and student representation. With the changes to higher education policy during the 1980s the Board decided to amalgamate with the University of Sydney as a means of maintaining the identity and title of the Conservatorium and to enable it to operate on a semi-autonomous basis. As part of the reorganisation of higher education in the late 1980s the Conservatorium became a college of the University under s. 42(1) of the University and University Colleges (Amendment) Act 1989. It was amalgamated with the University of Sydney and on 1 January 1990 becoming an academic college of the University under s.27 of the University of Sydney Act 1989 which repealed the earlier Act.

Before joining the University of Sydney the Conservatorium had been under the control of the NSW State Government which also holds some records relating to its early operations. Further information is available on the NSW Government’s State Archives and Records Website.