University of Sydney Quadrangle

The University of Sydney Quadrangle is a central courtyard surrounded by sandstone buildings that create a unified architectural space, with a clock tower marking the main entrance. The enclosed courtyard connects to lecture theaters and the Nicholson Museum through multiple doorways and passages.

Construction of the Quadrangle started in 1854 and upon completion it became the largest public building of the New South Wales colony at that time. This achievement marked a turning point in the architectural development of the expanding colonial settlement.

The land where the Quadrangle stands belongs to the Cadigal and Wangal people of the Eora nation, who have a long connection to this area. When you walk through the courtyard, you sense the presence of the traditional custodians whose country this has always been.

The Quadrangle can be accessed through multiple entrances located around the campus, making it easy to reach from different directions. There is plenty of space to walk around, and you can move freely between the buildings and through the connected passages.

The tower houses a carillon, a bell instrument that ranks among only a few of its kind in Australia, and it rings out regularly throughout the day. The sound of the bells creates a distinctive audio presence that gives the space its own sense of time and rhythm.