AGY-2025 | New South Wales State Conservatorium of Music

Full description

The Conservatorium of Music had operated since 6 May, 1915. Although it was managed by a Council, it was not created by statute, did not report directly to a Minister and effectively operated as an 'educational institution' within the Ministry of Education.

Following a report on the administration of the Conservatorium of Music by a committee under the chairmanship of a member of the Public Service Board, control of the institution and determination of policy was vested in a Board of Governors established by the New South Wales State Conservatorium of Music Act (No.5, 1965). The Board, which was a body corporate with perpetual succession, consisted of ten members - The Director of the Conservatorium, eight persons nominated by the Minister and one person nominated by the Director. (1)

The functions of the Board were as follows:
* administration, care, control, management and maintenance of the Conservatorium
* establishment, maintenance and control of branches of the Conservatorium [this function could be exercised alone or in conjunction with an other person or corporate body]
* care, control and management of all Conservatorium property including books, manuscripts, instruments, chattels
* promoting, advancing and encouraging musical appreciation in the community
* Establishing and maintaining standards of attainment in musicianship
* Affiliation with other associations with similar objectives (2)

The Board was empowered to make by-laws relating to its own proceedings, the management of the Conservatorium and its branches, the award of certificates and diplomas, the admission of students, and conditions under which its services may be granted or received. (3)

The Act commenced on 7 October, 1966 (4) and the Board met for the first time on 16 September, 1966. (5)

The Conservatorium was abolished and its Board of Governors dissolved by the Higher Education (Amalgamation) Act (No.65, 1989). The property of the Conservatorium of Music (Sydney Branch) was transferred to the University of Sydney. (6) The property of the Newcastle branch of the Conservatorium was transferred to the University of Newcastle. (7) This latter transfer took effect on 1 November 1989 (8) while the Sydney Conservatorium became a college of the University of Sydney on 1 January 1990. (9)

Endnotes
(1) New South Wales State Conservatorium of Music Act, 1965 s. 4
(2) Ibid. s. 12
(3) Ibid. S. 16
(4) NSW Government Gazette 30 September, 1966 p. 3992
(5) Board of the State Conservatorium of Music, first annual report, 1967 p. 1 in NSW Parliamentary Papers Vol. 1, p. 643
(6) Higher Education (Amalgamation) Act, 1989 s. 7
(7) Ibid. s. 8
(8) NSW Government Gazette 27 October, 1989 p. 8844
(9) NSW Government Gazette 22 December, 1989 p. 11026