History & Traditions

Over 100 years at a glance - Sydney Uni Sport & Fitness established 1890.

By Lisa Jane Kinny

sanaens in sano corpore - let everybody go in for sports and thereby he will be doing general good. (Hermes, 18 May 1894)

Four decades after the establishment of the University of Sydney, Australia's first university, a meeting took place in the Stenhouse Library of all the University's athletes. The result was the formation of the Sydney University Sports Union, an amalgamation of the Cricket (1854), Football (1865), Boat (1860), Tennis (1885) and Athletic (1885) clubs already competing as University clubs.

The aim of the Union was to give students the opportunity to participate in as many sports as possible at an affordable rate. Before the Sports Union was formed students were required to subscribe to each individual club, making participating in more than one sport a costly exercise. The Fourth Annual Report of the Sports Union presented in 1894 noted its early success. 'Your Committee cannot but consider that the Sports Union is working well, when they notice the increase in the number of those who not only take part in but represent the University in more than one of these branches.' 

In its inaugural year the Sports Union had 166 members, by 1915 twenty five percent of the University's 1500 students were representing University teams and today Sydney University Sport involves more than 40,000 members.

Admission of women to the University began in 1881 and it was not long before these pioneering women had made their mark felt in both the academic and sporting arenas. The Ladies' Tennis Club was formed in 1887, the Women's Boat Club in 1896 and the Hockey Club in 1908 which culminated in the formation of the Sydney University Women's Sports Association in 1910.

As Universities grew especially after WWII more demands were placed on the sporting facilities provided by the Sports Union. Despite these unsteady times several of the University's Clubs continued to exercise influence both within the University and in external sporting organisations. During this time the two Sport unions continued to expand facilities and encourage the student body to participate in sport and recreational activities. 

The residential colleges have featured in the Sports Union's history, as from their earliest days the colleges had both the facilities and a competitive nature. Football, cricket and athletics were always popular as was rowing with the first Intercollegiate Boat Race being held in 1892. For members of the Sports Union not residing in an on campus college interfaculty sport was and continues to be an excellent opportunity to participate in intra-varsity competition. By the mid-1890's interfaculty competitions were annual events with Medicine taking on Arts in football and cricket. Such was the support for interfaculty sport that the Sports Union successfully lobbied the University Senate to have classes cancelled on the afternoon of interfaculty competition so that the competitors would not be disadvantaged. The Interfaculty Competition in 2004 included more than 10 faculties and over 500 competitors in the men's and women's competitions. Both interfaculty and intercollegiate sport has always been high on the Sports Unions agenda, showing its belief in the importance and benefits of participation in sport. The Programs and Participation department of Sydney Uni Sport & Fitness now oversees social and Interfaculty sport. School holiday sports camps are run and a school sport program in which a number of local schools participate.

The role of Universities continues to change, however sport is an ever present element. The Blues tradition is an example of sports' continual importance within the University. Starting in 1892 and continuing robustly into the 21st century, the honor of being awarded a Blue has never been diminished as athletes proudly take their place next to past Blues which include some of the countries most notable athletes. 

A second visible example of the importance of sport with in varsity institutions can be seen at annual Intervarsity competitions. Sydney University first took on Melbourne University in cricket during the early 1870's. As Australia developed and more universities were established the competition expanded both in terms of competitors and sports. The Australian Universities Sports Association was formed in 1907 to oversee and organise these important annual contests. Since its inception in 1993 Sydney University has claimed the Australian University Games title eight times, including 2011, the same year that it was named Overall Australian University Sport Champions, thus continuing Sydney University's prestige in the sporting community.

January 1st 2003 was a crucial turning point for the organisation which became known as Sydney University Sport when the Sydney University Sports Union and the Sydney University Women's Sports Association amalgamated creating this country's premier tertiary sporting body. Five years later, February 15th 2008 marked another major milestone with the launch of the organisation's new brand now referred to as Sydney Uni Sport & Fitness. In addition to its first class facilities there are 45 different sports and recreation clubs under the supervision of Sydney Uni Sport & Fitness providing a variety of opportunities for its members. These opportunities range in level from social to national competition. For example the Elite Athlete Program, which began in 1990 and now supports over 250 athletes across numerous sports. Sydney Uni Sport & Fitness provides support for its athletes in a number of ways including academically and financially as well as through its partnership with external sporting bodies such as the New South Wales Institute of Sport.