MISSION STATEMENT
Leading contemporary arts education fostering our region’s cultural diversity and artistic wealth.
General Information About NRCAC
NRCAC operates as an arts training centre; all activities of the conservatorium, its licensees, invitees and casual room hirers operate under this umbrella. It is situated in an historic, heritage listed building located in the heart of Lismore, NSW. All activities and use of the site comply with the principle of providing arts education and comply with the objectives of NRCAC.
Currently we offer the following qualifications: Cert IV in Music and Diploma of Music
History
1882: Lismore Public School
The land has been used for educational purposes since 1882. It was ‘an open paddock’ when the Lismore Public School, established in 1867, transferred there that year. The children were housed in school tents until in August 1885 they moved into a new brick building with stone foundations. From 1890 the school offered primary and secondary education, becoming the Lismore Superior School.
The land has been used for educational purposes since 1882. It was ‘an open paddock’ when the Lismore Public School, established in 1867, transferred there that year. The children were housed in school tents until in August 1885 they moved into a new brick building with stone foundations. From 1890 the school offered primary and secondary education, becoming the Lismore Superior School.
When the northern end of the 1885 building became unsafe, contractor C.B. Smith was paid 4,483 pounds to put up a three-storey brick building, with a covered play area on the ground floor and a seating capacity for 350 and was occupied by the Girls’ Department in August 1903.
1911: Lismore District School
Fairly soon afterwards most of the remaining 1885 building was demolished. The Boys’ Department of the Lismore District School was housed in a temporary wooden building until in December 1911, it moved into the two-storey brick extension on a foundation of mortised ironbark girders at the Keen and Magellan Streets corner. During the 1920s and 1930s allotments were acquired progressively until the whole area bounded by Keen, Magellan and Dawson Streets was available for school purposes. In February 1931 a long awaited third building opened.
1942-1969: Lismore High School
In 1942, after sixty years at Keen and Magellan Streets, Lismore Public School moved to a new complex and the vacated buildings were taken over by Lismore High School. Serving the entire Richmond River district, Lismore High was a first class high school; it was the first country school to achieve that status, with enrolments of almost 400. By 1957 Lismore High was, according to Ray Bass Education in Lismore (Lismore 1980), ‘the largest secondary school in the state, with an enrolment of 1,438 students and a staff of 67 teachers’.
In 1942, after sixty years at Keen and Magellan Streets, Lismore Public School moved to a new complex and the vacated buildings were taken over by Lismore High School. Serving the entire Richmond River district, Lismore High was a first class high school; it was the first country school to achieve that status, with enrolments of almost 400. By 1957 Lismore High was, according to Ray Bass Education in Lismore (Lismore 1980), ‘the largest secondary school in the state, with an enrolment of 1,438 students and a staff of 67 teachers’.
When in May 1969 Lismore High moved into a new complex in East Lismore, the fledgling Lismore Teachers’ College opened in the converted buildings, with Ray Bass as Principal. The first such college on the North Coast it offered a two-year general primary teachers’ course.
1971-1989: Northern Rivers College of Advanced Education
The Teachers College became a college of advanced education in September 1971, albeit a single purpose college until 1973, when it became a multi discipline CAE known as the Northern Rivers College of Advanced Education. In 1977 it expanded to include the Institute of Aboriginal Community Education and the following year the Northern Rivers Centre of Music, also affiliated with the NSW Conservatorium of Music.
1989-1993: University of New England, Northern Rivers
When on 17 July 1989 the college became the University of New England Northern Rivers it was occupying the main campus on Military Road. In 1994 UNENR became Southern Cross University. The University decided to close the community music centre but several people formed a steering committee with the view of keeping the music centre alive.
1991: Incorporation of NRCAC
On 21st January 1991 the Northern Rivers College Music Centre became incorporated in its own right as the Northern Rivers Conservatorium Arts Centre Inc. The Conservatorium was then still partially funded by the University and many of the music teachers at the University remained as teachers at the Conservatorium.
1993: Accreditation
In 1993 the Conservatorium ran its first year of accredited programs – certificate courses in music, dance and drama. The full time programs were successful running alongside community programs and in 1996, with the beginning of a new diploma year to augment the successful music certificate, the Conservatorium had in the vicinity of 1200 to 1500 students across its courses.
2003: Registered Training Organisation
In 2003, an Advanced Diploma in Jazz Studies was developed and began its first year in 2004. The Registered Training Organisation status was a new model for regional conservatoriums, and NRCAC was the first conservatorium in regional NSW to run full time courses for a predominantly adult market.
When on 17 July 1989 the college became the University of New England Northern Rivers it was occupying the main campus on Military Road. In 1994 UNENR became Southern Cross University. The University decided to close the community music centre but several people formed a steering committee with the view of keeping the music centre alive.
1991: Incorporation of NRCAC
On 21st January 1991 the Northern Rivers College Music Centre became incorporated in its own right as the Northern Rivers Conservatorium Arts Centre Inc. The Conservatorium was then still partially funded by the University and many of the music teachers at the University remained as teachers at the Conservatorium.
1993: Accreditation
In 1993 the Conservatorium ran its first year of accredited programs – certificate courses in music, dance and drama. The full time programs were successful running alongside community programs and in 1996, with the beginning of a new diploma year to augment the successful music certificate, the Conservatorium had in the vicinity of 1200 to 1500 students across its courses.
2003: Registered Training Organisation
In 2003, an Advanced Diploma in Jazz Studies was developed and began its first year in 2004. The Registered Training Organisation status was a new model for regional conservatoriums, and NRCAC was the first conservatorium in regional NSW to run full time courses for a predominantly adult market.