The Sydney Mechanics’ School of Arts is centrally located in the CBD at 280 Pitt St, Sydney, between Park and Bathurst Streets. We have four meeting rooms and a theatre available for hire, at affordable rates. Hirers use the rooms for a variety of purposes, from seminars and training to discussion and recreation groups. Information on the rooms and venue facilities are below.

• How to hire a room
  Venue information & room details
    

How to hire a room

Step 1
Call 9262 7300 or email venue.hire@sydneymsa.com.au to discuss availability and make a Tentative Booking. If you are not familiar with the facilities, you can request a time to come and inspect the rooms.

Step 2
Complete a Venue Hire Booking Form with as much information as possible, including equipment and/or crockery requirements and whether you require the foldable doors to be opened or closed. Please ensure you allow enough setup time for your event and enough time for clean-up afterwards. Tentative Bookings will be released unless confirmed within 10 working days. We will send you a Booking Confirmation. If you are hiring equipment or crockery, we will contact you about key collection prior to your event.

Step 3
On the day of your activity, check the Daily Notice display in the foyer and in the lifts to find out which room your event is in. 

Please contact our Venue Hire team on 02 9262-7300 or venue.hire@sydneymsa.com.au to be sent copies of the 2010 Booking Form and Information, and the 2010 Venue Hire Terms and Conditions.

The Sydney Mechanics’ School of Arts venue hire facilities, consisting of the Level 1 meeting rooms and the Mitchell Theatre, provide affordable meeting space in the CBD. Hirers use the rooms for a variety of purposes, from seminars and training to discussion and recreation groups.

venue information and Room details

Meeting Rooms

Each meeting room is between 28-31 sq m (approx.) and contains 20 chairs, plus tables and whiteboard. Extra chairs are located in each room. Hirers may move the furniture to suit requirements, however please return it to its original position upon completion.

The rooms may be hired singly or in combination, and are separated by sound-proofed foldable doors which staff may operate depending on your configuration requirements—please indicate whether you require the foldable doors in an open or closed position on the Venue Hire Booking Form.

Please Note: The corner Dowling Room may only be hired in conjunction with the adjoining Carmichael OR Lawson Rooms.

Mitchell Theatre

The Mitchell Theatre is approx. 180 sq m and has 171 seats, however we recommend a capacity of no more than 142 people due to obstructed views. The hire fee includes a fixed data projector, projection screen, sound system, lectern and a computer with internet access. Instructions for use of the room equipment are displayed on the wall and are also available at Level 3 Reception.

Food and beverages MUST NOT be consumed in the Mitchell Theatre, however the foyer may be used as a break-out area.

Equipment

Audio-visual equipment for use in the Meeting Rooms may be hired at an additional fee. Please refer to the Venue Hire Terms and Conditions for rates and indicate all equipment requirements on Venue Hire Booking Form.

Internet Access

Internet access is available in all Level 1 rooms, and may be accessed via wireless (see Reception on level 3 for connection details) or via the data ports located in each room which are indicated by a red dot. Please bring your own network cable.

Kitchen and foyer

There is a small kitchen and foyer area. These are shared with other hirers unless the entire floor is booked. The kitchen contains a microwave, stovetop, fridge and dishwasher, and may only be used in conjunction with meeting room hire—not as a commercial training facility.

Crockery and glassware may be hired for an additional fee. Please refer to the Venue Hire Terms and Conditions for rates.

Cleaning up

To keep hire rates low, the SMSA does not provide cleaning services to hirers. After your event, you must leave the meeting rooms, kitchen and foyer clean and tidy, and you must return all furniture to its original position.

As per the Venue Hire Terms and Conditions, we will charge an additional Cleaning Penalty if the meeting rooms, kitchen or foyer are not left in an acceptable condition.

Access

The lifts and lighting on Level 1 are controlled by an automatic security system which is set in accordance with access times requested on your booking form. Please ensure that you allow enough time on your booking form for setup before the event and cleanup after the event.

The front door of the building normally closes at 6:30pm. To leave after this time, simply press the green door release button inside the foyer on the left-hand side.

Toilets

Male and Female Toilets are located on Level 1 near the Mitchell Theatre.

An Accessible Toilet is available on the Ground Floor and a key can be obtained from Level 3 during business hours.

Transport

The closest train stations are Town Hall and Museum.

All George Street and Elizabeth Street bus services stop nearby.

The SMSA has no parking facilities—the closest carparks are World Square and Piccadilly (137 Castlereagh St).