Associate Professor Margaret Sabine carrying the Mace; Sir Herman Black, Chancellor; Professor John Ward, Vice-Chancellor.

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The University Mace was either gifted by Queen Victoria and officially presented to the University by Sir Charles Fitzroy, Governor of the Colony of New South Wales, in 1852 [Ref 1], or acquired in the name of the Queen through Sir Fitzroy. It was made of colonial silver and myall wood by Brush and Macdonnell [Ref 2] and bears three arms - those of the Royal Arms, the Colony, and the University - with a rose, thistle and shamrock entwined between the Arms. [Ref 3]. On 29 February 1980, University Archivist GL Fischer, noted that, "When the mace was completed in December 1854, a space was left for the University arms since the design was not decided upon until December 1856, and not granted until 14 May 1857...The version of the New South Wales arms differs considerably from the grant of 1906, and I do not know what its official standing was". [Ref 4]. The original motto of the University, 'Doctrina Paret Virtutem', was replaced in 1858 with the present motto, 'Sidere Mens Eadem Mutato'. It was to be carried by the Esquire Bedell before the Chancellor in procession on official occasions. [Ref 5].

On 4 December 1989, the Vice-Chancellor presented to Senate that, "At the time when the first Chancellor of the University of Western Sydney, Sir Ian Turbott was installed, some Fellows suggested to me that The University of Sydney might present a mace to the University of Western Sydney. This would be a most appropriate gift and would be welcome...Recommended [in bold] that the Vice-Chancellor be authorised to arrange to have a mace fabricated and that a suitable ceremony be organised next year for its presentation. The likely cost is about $2,000.00". [Ref 6]. The preeminent silversmiths, the husband and wife team, Helge Larsen and Darani Lewers, were commissioned to design and produce this mace. The total cost, however, came to $15,000 for the 18-carat gold, sterling silver, enamel and myall wood ("...an organic element which echoes the timber baton. [sic] a feature of the mace made for the University of Sydney in 1854) mace. The University of Western Sydney media release about the presentation ceremony noted that, "It was an historic occasion with the Chancellor of Australia's oldest university presenting the mace as a gift to the Chancellor of...one of Australia's youngest institutions". [Ref 7].

This item is part of the University Archives' 70 Years, 70 Stories series, created to celebrate our 70th birthday on 3 May 2024. To discover more stories, explore the 70 Years, 70 Stories collection.

Ref 1: The University Mace (No Date), [REF-00040321]. University of Sydney Archives.

Ref 2: Ceremonies - Ceremonial Mace (Feb 1980 to 19/02/1992), [REF-00002096]. University of Sydney Archives.

Ref 3: see Ref 1.

Ref 4: see Ref 2.

Ref 5: see Ref 1.

Ref 6: Senate Minutes Vol 11 December 1989, pp 1297-1635 (Dec 1989), p. 1334, [REF-00070601]. University of Sydney Archives.

Ref 7: see Ref 2.