When the International Exhibition was staged in Sydney in 1879, it was the first of its kind in Australia. It was held in the fabulous Garden Palace in the Domain, the Garden Palace was built specially for this inaugural exhibition. Quoting from Gibbs, Shallard & Company's "Guide to Sydney" published in 1882 and republished by Angus & Robertson in 1981, this marvellous building was described as follows:

"The Garden Palace is in the form of a cross, the extremities of which face the four cardinal points of the compass, each being finished by a lofty tower. In the centre is the magnificent dome, which, although inferior in altitude and dimensions, when seen from the distance will remind many of the dome of St Paul's that towers over the City of London."

The International Exhibition was a tremendously important occasion for the developing colony, marking the start of new eras of culture, industry and commerce, Gibbs, Shallard & Company's "Guide to Sydney" enthusiastically reported: "The display of manufactures and works of art, products of industry and taste of all the nations of the earth, was almost bewildering for variety, beauty, ingenuity and number."

While much of the art displayed at the International Exhibition had been brought from overseas, a modest collection of Australian art was also on display. The exhibition - it was claimed later - provided the nucleus of the collections in the National Gallery of South Australia and to a lesser degree, Victoria and New South Wales.

It was at the Garden Palace that The Art Society of New South Wales (To become The Royal Art Society of NSW in 1903) held its first exhibitions. The Art Society came into existence in Sydney in 1880 as a result of the drive and enthusiasm of two brothers, George and Arthur Collingridge and a number of other professional artists.

On his arrival in Sydney from England in 1877, George found that professional artists were obliged to exhibit their paintings in the windows of music shops as they had no rooms or exhibiting space in which to regularly display their work.

The first President of the new Art Society was professional painter and ex-army artist, John Clark Hoyte (1825-1913). The Society was given rooms and the right to stage their exhibitions in the Garden Palace by the Premier of New South Wales, Sir Henry Parkes. However, in September 1882, on the eve of the Art Society's Spring Exhibition, an enormous fire raged through the building and the beautiful Garden Palace was burned to the ground. Nothing was saved from the inferno and the Society lost all its records and property.

The Society continued to meet in the city, first in the Public Library, holding its exhibitions in the vestibule of the Town Hall until 1888, then in rooms in the Royal Arcade and later at 76 Pitt Street.

By this time, artists arriving in the Colony from Europe brought with them knowledge of the social realist style of painting which placed emphasis on depicting the working and living conditions of the ordinary man and woman and also of "plein air" methods of working outdoors. The Society ran classes in their rooms, not only to provide sound art training for students but also to encourage the development of an Australian style which incorporated some of these new ideas. In 1956 a painter, Mr Harry Hibble, who was also a great real estate agent, and artist/architect, Lindsay Sever, advised the Royal Art Society of the availability of two adjoining Victorian terraces in Walker Street and the Society made the decision to purchase and refurbish these terraces and convert them into the present premises which contain spacious galleries, a members' room and art school studios.

1939 saw the outbreak of World War Two and the whole of Australian society underwent tremendous changes as the war progressed. Many artists enlisted in the armed forces and the Royal Art Society found it necessary to close the doors of the Art School which had played such an important role in the fostering and development of Australian art since 1885. However, the Society itself continued to function and to hold exhibitions in the Education Department's gallery in Bridge Street, Sydney. Lectures by noted artists and teachers were given, criticism evenings continued to be held and sketch outings were arranged for the members.

Norman Lindsay, in a letter expressing support for the Society in 1953, wrote as follows:-

"The Royal Art Society has been an institution remarkable for the liveliness and durability of its members, probably because the were infused with a passion for art and a determination to practice it in the Australian context. Men and women of vision who were also forceful characters established the Society and kept it alive - and often kicking - in the midst of great difficulties, and what was worse, indifference."

The names of those who exhibited with the Society in its first fifty years include Elioth Gruner, James Crisp, Penleigh Boyd, E.Phillip Fox, Rupert Bunny, Fred McCubbin, Ma Meldrum, Squire Morgan and R.J.Eldershaw as well as the group identified by camps at Eaglement and Sirius Cove - Conder, Roberts and Streeton with Hans Heysen and other painters who between them captured the Archibald, Sulman and Wynne prizes with amazing regularity.

The Society's members served on the Commonwealth Art Advisory Board.

Many of the Fellows taught privately as well as in the Society's School and their pupils are among those whose works are in the National Gallery, in all state galleries, in the regional galleries of Victoria and New South Wales, and in many galleries overseas.

Over the years other famous Australian artists who have exhibited with the Society have included John Longstaff, Walter Lister Lister, William Piquenit, William Dargie and Lloyd Rees.

Immediately after the end of the Second World War, Erik Langker - later Sir Erik Langker - became President of the Royal Art Society and remained so for thirty-five years until his death in 1982. It was during his term of office that two important events occurred - one was the purchasing of the Society's premises and the other was the re-opening of the Art School in 1966.

The first Director of the post was Art School was Archibald and Sulman Prize winner, Henry Hanke and he was followed as Director by Allan Hansen FRAS.

This year (2004), the Royal Art Society is 125 years old. The Society is alive and well, with a membership of nearly five hundred, which includes social members as well as practicing artists.