Sydney Ure Smith

Who was Sydney Ure Smith?

Sydney George Ure Smith OBE was an Australian arts publisher and promoter who 'did more than any other Australian to publicize Australian art at home and overseas'.

He was born in London in 1887 and arrived in Australia with his parents later that same year. His father was manager of the Menzies Hotel, Melbourne then Hotel Australia, Sydney for over 20 years. His parents adopted the form 'Ure Smith': his mother was born Catherine Ure, but formally their surname remained Smith.

He was educated at Queen's College, Melbourne then at Sydney Grammar School. He studied pencil and ink drawing at the Julian Ashton School of Art 1902–07 then learnt the techniques of etching from Eirene Mort. At age 19 he helped Harry Julius and Albert Collins found the commercial art studio that later became Smith and Julius.

Unlike most of his contemporaries, he seldom submitted his work for publication. He published his own work in limited edition books such as Old Sydney and Old Colonial By-Ways, prompted by his passion for preserving historic buildings.