School of Physics

Teaching in the subject area of Physics began with the appointment of Professor John Smith as Professor of Chemistry and Experimental Physics in 1852. Smith was succeeded by Richard Threlfall, who was appointed Professor of Physics in 1886, with James Cook, F.R.S., as Assistant Lecturer. James Arthur Pollack was the next Professor of Physics, appointed 1899, followed by Oscar Ulrich Vonwiller in 1923. Victor Albert Bailey was appointed Professor of Experimental Physics in 1936, and there were two chairs in the Department from 1936 to 1946.

In 1952, Harry Messel was appointed Professor and Head of the Department, with Bailey assuming the title of 'Research Professor'. By 1955, Messel was described as 'Professor and Head of the School of Physics'.

In 1955 the University leased the shaft and tunnel of the disused defence electric light emplacement near Macquarie Light Watsons Bay. This was occupied by the School of Physics' South Head Research Station conducting Cosmic Ray Research. The lease commenced on 1 March 1995 and concluded on 1 June 1962 [G3/13, 16180].  

By 1977, there were eight research departments in the School of Physics - Astrophysics Department; Chatterton Astronomy Department; Environmental Physics Department; Falkiner Nuclear Physics Department; Packer Theoretical Physics Department; Solar Energy Department; Wills Plasma Physics Department; and Basser Department of Computer Science (split into two c. 1977, the University Computing Service and another which became separate academic departments in 1979 and was renamed School of Information Technologies in 2001).

Please note this administrative history is incomplete. A more detailed history can be found on the School of Physics website at http://sydney.edu.au/science/physics/about/history.shtml (accessed on 02/11/2020).