R. D. Watt Building (after 1916)

Figure 10. Courtesy of the University of Sydney Archives, Date Unknown [G3_224_0056]. View Of The Agriculture Building West Side From Science Road. Photograph, https://www.sydney.edu.au/arms/archives/media/me_objects/15.[1]

The next stop on the tour is the R. D. Watt Building, with the photo taken some time after 1916 (Fig. 10). This structure, completed in 1916, belonged to the Agricultural Science School and was designed in the Federation Arts and Crafts architectural style.[2] The word agriculture is written on the entrance to the building.[3] It has been used continuously for this purpose since its completion and, as you can see from the photograph, the building itself has not changed significantly.[4]  An interesting thing to note is that the first agricultural lecture given by R. D. Watt in 1911, the first Dean of Agriculture, is commemorated each year with a lecture.[5]

Have a look around the porch. You will see carved stone animals and gargoyles paired with Art Nouveau details, continuing the gothic stonework traditions set by the Main Building.[6] Now keep walking down Science Road.

     [1] “University Archives Mediabank.”

     [2] Kerr, Attenbrow, Stanborough, Ellsmore, and Marshall,  Appendix A, A40.

     [3] Kerr, Attenbrow, Stanborough, Ellsmore, and Marshall,  Appendix A, A40.

     [4] Kerr, Attenbrow, Stanborough, Ellsmore, and Marshall,  Appendix A, A40.

     [5] “Annual RD Watt Lecture,” The University of Sydney, accessed June 2, 2021, https://www.sydney.edu.au/agriculture/outreach-engagement/annual-rd-watt-lecture.html.

     [6] Kerr, Attenbrow, Stanborough, Ellsmore, and Marshall,  Appendix A, A40.