Celebrating 190 years 1833 – 2023
Sydney Mechanics’ School of Arts (SMSA) has been proudly supporting its Members for 190 years.
We are committed to providing our membership with services and benefits designed to continuously improve performance and to help build a successful and sustained community.
The SMSA is home to the Tom Keneally Centre and operates the longest–running continuous lending library in Australia.
The Sydney Mechanics’ School of Arts is a self-funded not-for-profit organisation, wholly owned by its members and has made a major contribution to Sydney’s culture, industry, society and politics since 1833.
Learn more about our history
Our library collection has over 30,000 books on the shelves – covering all genres inclusing fiction, non-fiction, science fiction, biography and poetry. Many people know us for having the best crime fiction collection in Sydney.
Social psychologist and bestselling author Hugh Mackay joins us in conversation with Catherine du Peloux Menagé to talk about his latest book The Therapist.
Australia’s Queen of Crime Candice Fox joins us in conversation with Catherine du Peloux Menagé to talk about her latest thriller Fire with Fire.
Join us to watch this film classic with an introduction by SMSA member, Peter Rainey.
On Wednesday 22nd March 2023 Sydney Mechanics’ School of Arts celebrated our 190th Birthday.
Celebrating International Women’s Day 2023Learn more about historical SMSA Member Louisa Lawson, The National Council of Women (NSW) Australia Day Awards 2023 and choose a book from the SMSA Library’s International Women’s Day list.
New Members’ Group: BridgeWould you like to learn to play Bridge? Answered yes to this question, we would like to hear from you!
Tom Keneally: Ice cream with caramel and cherriesRecently, Tom Keneally shared a special friends recipe in an article published in The Australian.
Hire our large Theatre or our flexible Meeting Rooms that can be configured to meet your needs.
Hire SMSA for your next AGM, conference or product launch. We have rooms perfect for talks, lectures, seminars and training days, not to mention committee meetings, film nights, and recreation groups.
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.