Badham Building (1900)

Figure 13. Courtesy of the University of Sydney Archives, 1900 [G3_224_MF374_0237]. Science Road, View From West - Badham Building, Horse Grazing. Photograph, https://www.sydney.edu.au/arms/archives/media/me_objects/747.[1]

This next stop takes you to the Badham building with a photograph taken in 1900 (Fig. 13). Constructed in 1886- 1887, the Badham building was originally used as a physics laboratory.[2] Due to this, it was constructed with specific laboratory needs which included deep foundations to eliminate vibration, non-magnetic materials, and exposed surfaces for easy access.[3] The square tower you can see at the front of the main entrance also had a particular function.[4] This was for students and staff to be able to see the time ball at Sydney Observatory, which is a large painted ball used for signalling time.[5]

Looking at the old photograph, you can see a horse grazing on the open land in front of the Badham Building. It is quite difficult to image horses in this space today! The building is currently used by the Faculty of Science and contains a postgraduate study area called the Quarter. To get to your next location, pass through the graffiti tunnel between the Badham and Pharmacy buildings.

     [1] “University Archives Mediabank.”

     [2] Kerr, Attenbrow, Stanborough, Ellsmore, and Marshall,  Appendix A, A31.

     [3] Kerr, Attenbrow, Stanborough, Ellsmore, and Marshall,  Appendix A, A31.

     [4] Kerr, Attenbrow, Stanborough, Ellsmore, and Marshall,  Appendix A, A31.

     [5] Kerr, Attenbrow, Stanborough, Ellsmore, and Marshall,  Appendix A, A31.