Author talk: The Schoolgirl, Her Teacher and his Wife
Join us in conversation with author of The Schoolgirl, Her Teacher and his Wife
Sydney Mechanics’ School of Arts has been welcoming members and visitors for over 190 years, providing an inclusive environment for people to share their love of learning.
Home to Australia’s longest-running lending library and the Tom Keneally Centre, SMSA is an integral part of Sydney’s literature and cultural society.
SMSA offers a robust event program and invites members and visitors to attend.
Our convenient Sydney CBD location also provides a range of meeting rooms and event spaces for hire.
We invite you to explore what SMSA has to offer…
In celebration of our rich history, the SMSA was given exclusive access to the Special Collection at the State Library of NSW.
Since its inception, the Sydney Mechanics’ School of Arts has always been a meeting place for lifelong learners eager to share their knowledge and skills. A self-funded, not-for-profit organisation wholly owned by its members, SMSA has made a major contribution to Sydney’s culture, industry, society, and politics since 1833.
LEARN MOREOur library collection has over 30,000 books on the shelves covering all genres including fiction, non-fiction, science fiction, biography, and poetry. Many people know us for having the best crime fiction collection in Sydney.
SMSA offers several flexible and affordable meeting rooms and event spaces, which are all conveniently located right in the heart of Sydney’s CBD. From our tiered theatre and multiple meeting rooms, to the unique book lovers venue, the Tom Keneally Centre, SMSA is the place to meet.
Join us in conversation with author of The Schoolgirl, Her Teacher and his Wife
Join us for an evening of film and conversation with SMSA member, Peter Rainey.
Dr Celine van Golde joins us for the SMSA Mystery & Crime Lecture 2024.
We are joined by award-winning historian Dr Kiera Lindsey to talk about her latest book Wild Love. Wild Love tells the fascinating story of Adelaide Ironside, an ambitious and determined Australian artist of the 1800’s. In this conversation, we talk about research, art, speculative biographies and how the Sydney Mechanics’ School of Arts features in […]
Margot Stephens: Creativity, Community and Celebrating Louisa LawsonThis is an in-depth conversation with sculptor, Margot Stephens, discussing her recent project, the Louisa Lawson statue in Mudgee. We explore creative process, community based art and celebrate the unsung heroine, Louisa Lawson. Louisa Lawson was a notable historical member of the SMSA. A champion for women’s rights, Louisa was the first woman admitted to […]
Catching up with Rachel FranksNow in their sixth year, the BAD Sydney Crime Writers Festival’s Danger Awards are a highly anticipated event in the crime genre calendar. This year the award broke new ground with the inclusion of a People’s Choice Award category. As crime genre enthusiasts, we were ecstatic to get the lowdown direct from this year’s […]
We are home to a unique collection of books, a highlight being our Mystery and Crime section.
We are honoured to be the home of Tom Keneally’s personal collection of books, many of which have been used as research for his own work.
Join a members group, share your passions, learn new skills and get involved.
We provide a variety of member only events, these are relaxed social occasions to have fun and make new friends.