The town hall is the centre of the municipality, indeed the symbol of civic life in a particular area. Here, I present most of the town halls of Melbourne...

Melbourne's municipalities were all forced to merge in 1994, and so the town halls and civic centres no longer quite represent the municipalities they are named after. Nevertheless, most of them continue to be the seat of power for the local council and a focus for the area.

I am really keen to see what exists in the other cities too, so if you are from another city or regional centre - post! hehe

Anyway, enjoy...

Cheers! :cheers2:


CITY OF BOX HILL (now City of Whitehorse)
Box Hill Town Hall, c.1932
http://img297.imageshack.us/img297/2402/boxhill0sr.jpg


CITY OF BRIGHTON (now city of Bayside)
Brighton Civic Centre, built 1959-60 and based on the Guggenheim Museum
http://img293.imageshack.us/img293/1940/brighton15ws.jpg

http://img293.imageshack.us/img293/9318/brighton25fy.jpg


CITY OF BRUNSWICK (now City of Moreland)
Brunswick Town Hall, built 1876
http://img293.imageshack.us/img293/6136/brunswick9gw.jpg

CITY OF CAMBERWELL (now City of Boroondara)
Camberwell Town Hall, built 1891
http://img293.imageshack.us/img293/1126/camberwell12uu.jpg

http://img293.imageshack.us/img293/7184/camberwell26tz.jpg


CITY OF COLLINGWOOD (now City of Yarra)
Collingwood Town Hall, built 1885-90
http://img293.imageshack.us/img293/8859/collingwood13cz.jpg

http://img293.imageshack.us/img293/9297/collingwood29tx.jpg

CITY OF FOOTSCRAY (now City of Maribyrnong)
Footscay Town Hall, built 1936
http://img293.imageshack.us/img293/1270/footscray15ds.jpg

http://img301.imageshack.us/img301/8517/footscray24uy.jpg


CITY OF HAWTHORN (now City of Boroondara)
Hawthorn Town Hall, 1888-90
http://img301.imageshack.us/img301/957/hawthorn16nk.jpg


CITY OF HEIDELBERG (now City of Banyule)
The Centre Ivanhoe, built 1937
http://img301.imageshack.us/img301/9597/heidelberg16sy.jpg

http://img301.imageshack.us/img301/6919/heidelberg27kr.jpg


CITY OF MALVERN (now City of Stonnington)
Malvern Town Hall, built 1885-6
http://img301.imageshack.us/img301/7493/malvern12fm.jpg

http://img301.imageshack.us/img301/934/malvern25zc.jpg


CITY OF MELBOURNE
Melbourne Town Hall, built 1865-80
(hard to get a good pic of the clocktower of this landmark)
http://img301.imageshack.us/img301/5663/melbourne12as.jpg


BOROUGH OF HOTHAM (City of Melbourne since 1905)
North Melbourne Community Centre, built 1883
http://img301.imageshack.us/img301/2577/nmelb18mx.jpg

http://img301.imageshack.us/img301/8223/nmelb24js.jpg


CITY OF NUNAWADING (now City of Whitehorse)
Whitehorse Civic Centre, built 1963
http://img301.imageshack.us/img301/1199/nunawading18kj.jpg

http://img301.imageshack.us/img301/8378/nunawading29vj.jpg

http://img301.imageshack.us/img301/3318/nunawading37nd.jpg

CITY OF RICHMOND (now City of Yarra)
Richmond Town Hall
http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/4729/richmond16bf.jpg

http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/7179/richmond20pj.jpg


CITY OF SOUTH MELBOURNE (now City of Port Philip)
South Melbourne Town Hall, built 1879-80
http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/2078/smelb11qu.jpg

http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/3996/smelb28uy.jpg

CITY OF ST. KILDA (now City of Port Philip)
St Kilda Town Hall
http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/5153/stkilda26wq.jpg

http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/1237/stkilda3fc.jpg


CITY OF WAVERLEY (now City of Monash)
Monash Council Chambers
http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/7281/waverley14oo.jpg

http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/2483/waverley29zo.jpg

Can you see how Monash Council devised its logo?
http://www.id.com.au/monash/commprofile/img/cnt/102Mona/logo.gif

http://curtis.f2o.org/blog/images/thatsallfolks.jpg

Isn't SMEL 'City/Borough of Emerald Hill'?

btw, it's Banyule not city of Ivanhoe ;)

I didnt even know that City of Brighton town hall existed!

Oh dear!

A few mistakes there.

The original Brighton Town Hall was erected in the 1880s.

The City of Hawthorn is now part of the City of Boroondara

The City of Malvern is now part of the City of Stonnington

The City of Heidelberg is now part of the City of Banyule

Oops! (very red face)

Thanks for the corrections, guys. The dates of construction are of the buildings shown, not the original buildings, where they exist. I didn't post the original Brighton Town Hall, but Aussie Steve is correct of course about that building's date.

Somewhere behind that Egyptian art-deco facade of the Richmond Town Hall which was added in the 1920s is the original town hall built in 1864, possibly making it the oldest still standing. The old building can clearly be seen from the back and sides.

http://image.sl.nsw.gov.au/on4/403/40354r.jpg

Mmmm - dat's some booklernin' ! The Logo that is...

Interesting that of the 19th century town halls only Melbourne, Collingwood, Fitzroy, Prahran and South Melbourne are heritage registered. While these are amongst the oldest and best resolved architecturally I would have thought that the inner city town halls as a group better than anything illustrate the optimism and parochialism which existed in the newly created cities and boroughs of Melbourne. These were extraordinarily large and expensive buildings to be erecting in what were nascent settlements. While there is no realistic prospect of any of them disappearing, it would be nice to have them recognised.

Melbourne's gold rush money is truely evident in many of these town halls - well the older ones for certain. Any of them would do a large world city proud. Melbourne's Town Hall isn't even my favourite of the lot. Always liked South Melbourne for some reason. Its a pretty classy building. Hell, even Footscary is nice.

The Prahran Town Hall was opened in 1861.

http://www.stonnington.vic.gov.au/library/praimage/07/7397.jpg

http://www.stonnington.vic.gov.au/library/praimage/08/8664.jpg

http://www.stonnington.vic.gov.au/library/praimage/02/2311.jpg

http://www.stonnington.vic.gov.au/library/praimage/00/989.jpg

http://www.stonnington.vic.gov.au/library/praimage/09/9305.jpg

http://www.stonnington.vic.gov.au/library/praimage/02/2322.jpg

http://www.stonnington.vic.gov.au/library/praimage/12/12712.jpg

http://www.stonnington.vic.gov.au/library/praimage/02/2317.jpg

http://www.stonnington.vic.gov.au/library/praimage/06/6017.jpg

http://www.stonnington.vic.gov.au/library/praimage/06/6062.jpg

Yep, that's the oldest I think.

60's architecture at its best.

http://img293.imageshack.us/img293/1940/brighton15ws.jpg

http://img293.imageshack.us/img293/9318/brighton25fy.jpg

Fitzroy Town Hall just to complete the set.

http://www.doi.vic.gov.au/doi/hvolr.nsf/LUDL/H0147/$file/1_fitzroy_town_hall_napier_street_fitzroy_street_view_she_project_2004.jpg

When the City of Yarra was formed in 1994 they had the choice of Collingwood, Fitzroy and Richmond Town Halls as their administrative centre. They chose Richmond - figure that one. Although the multi-million dollar refurb that Richmond ratepayers footed the bill for shortly beforhand probably swayed them.

the st kilda th designed by William pitt had a 30m clock tower planned which would of totalled 54m/178ft high, but funding was cut and never went ahead.
now when you see the bldg its really half complete.

http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/1237/stkilda3fc.jpg

Mr C, have you ever seen a photo, plan or sketch of the proposed tower? i knew it was planned and never built, but I have never seen any evidence of a drawing as such.

A few more.

City of Darebin built 1893.
http://web.aanet.com.au/sirbugalugs/junk/IMG_5788.JPG

http://web.aanet.com.au/sirbugalugs/junk/IMG_5791.JPG

The glassy city of Whittlesea Council.
http://web.aanet.com.au/sirbugalugs/junk/IMG_5755.JPG

http://web.aanet.com.au/sirbugalugs/junk/IMG_5762.JPG

http://web.aanet.com.au/sirbugalugs/junk/IMG_5770.JPG

http://web.aanet.com.au/sirbugalugs/junk/IMG_5774.JPG

http://www.thecollectormm.com.au/gallery/postcards/1920s-1980s/slides/StKilda12.jpg
Old postcard of St Kilda Town Hall above and The Olderfleet's
recent photograph below for comparison.
http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/1237/stkilda3fc.jpg
___________________________________________________________

http://www.thecollectormm.com.au/private/TownHall1.jpg
Melbourne Town Hall before it had its portico and below a postcard showing the Town Hall with it.
http://www.thecollectormm.com.au/gallery/postcards/1920s-1980s/slides/TownHall1.jpg
___________________________________________________________

http://www.thecollectormm.com.au/gallery/postcards/Edwardian/slides/Hawthorn1.jpg
Edwardian postcard of Hawthorn Town Hall above and The Olderfleet's
recent photograph below for comparison.
http://img301.imageshack.us/img301/957/hawthorn16nk.jpg
___________________________________________________________

http://www.thecollectormm.com.au/gallery/postcards/Edwardian/slides/MooneePonds2.jpg
An Edwardian postcard of the Moonee Ponds Town Hall.

Does Sydney have as many old townhalls as Melb?

Darebin looks like it's in the deep south of the US or something :lol:

I like that postcard of the St Kilda Town Hall, especially as it shows the brick facade before it was rendered.

Does Sydney have as many old townhalls as Melb?
Sydney has many old town halls but not as elebortae as melbournes. probably due to lack of funds. no gold rush for us.

The Stonnington City Centre (formerly the Malvern Town Hall)

Aerial view c.1992
http://www.stonnington.vic.gov.au/library/malimage/07/7992.jpg

http://www.stonnington.vic.gov.au/library/malimage/07/7959.jpg

Aerial view c.1920s
http://www.stonnington.vic.gov.au/library/malimage/00/720.jpg

The Main Hall
http://www.stonnington.vic.gov.au/library/malimage/02/2732.jpg

http://www.stonnington.vic.gov.au/library/malimage/00/291.jpg

http://www.stonnington.vic.gov.au/library/malimage/07/7604.jpg

The upper foyer
http://www.stonnington.vic.gov.au/library/malimage/00/272.jpg

Council Chambers
http://www.stonnington.vic.gov.au/library/malimage/05/5317.jpg

Malvern Shire Hall proposed design
http://www.stonnington.vic.gov.au/library/malimage/05/5018.jpg

Malvern Shire Hall c.1880s
http://www.stonnington.vic.gov.au/library/malimage/00/677.jpg

Malvern Shire Hall proposed extensions (new northern fire brigade lookout tower and extended southern clock tower)
http://www.stonnington.vic.gov.au/library/malimage/02/2731.jpg

Malvern Shire Hall c.1890s
http://www.stonnington.vic.gov.au/library/malimage/07/7606.jpg

Malvern Town Hall c.1910s
http://www.stonnington.vic.gov.au/library/malimage/00/966.jpg

Soon after the portico was added, the northern and southern wings were extended (including new council chamber, main hall and banquet hall) in the 1920s
http://www.stonnington.vic.gov.au/library/malimage/07/7214.jpg

Glenferrie Rd facade
http://www.stonnington.vic.gov.au/library/malimage/07/7987.jpg

http://www.stonnington.vic.gov.au/library/malimage/07/7774.jpg

One of the things which surprised me about Melbourne, was the quantity and quality of its suburban town halls. Some of the are incredibly beautiful, with some much more imposing than some state parliaments. My favourite was the South melbourne town hall, it really took my breath away when I saw it. It's so large, elegant and majestic.

Williamstown Town ahll:

http://www.travelvictoria.com.au/images/williamstown/photos/36.jpg

A nice collection of Town halls.I guess they used to be the real focal point of the town before we had other distractions in our lives.TV,Radio and later the internet

Fitzroy Town Hall just to complete the set.

http://www.doi.vic.gov.au/doi/hvolr.nsf/LUDL/H0147/$file/1_fitzroy_town_hall_napier_street_fitzroy_street_view_she_project_2004.jpg

When the City of Yarra was formed in 1994 they had the choice of Collingwood, Fitzroy and Richmond Town Halls as their administrative centre. They chose Richmond - figure that one. Although the multi-million dollar refurb that Richmond ratepayers footed the bill for shortly beforhand probably swayed them.
This is my favorite its a pity its hidden away in a back street.

Here's some of Geelong Town Hall
http://www.heritage.vic.gov.au/pages/images/permitimages/geelongtownhall.gif
http://www.withincooee.com/images/geelong/town-hall.gif

Previous thread on the Grandest Grandaddy of town halls in Australia, Sydney Town Hall.

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=241616

Sydney's town halls are somewhat sombre in appearance. Victoria, esp Melbourne has by far the most outstanding ones in the country. :yes:

Two more Edwardian postcards.

Northcote Town Hall.

http://www.thecollectormm.com.au/gallery/postcards/Edwardian/slides/Northcote4.jpg

Preston Town Hall.

http://www.thecollectormm.com.au/gallery/postcards/Edwardian/slides/Preston1.jpg

Sydney's town halls are somewhat sombre in appearance. Victoria, esp Melbourne has by far the most outstanding ones in the country. :yes:

Goldrush. Thats the reason melbourne has a lot of cool old buildings. We were very rich back then.

Good gets with those postcards collector.

Seems like the the locals in Preston had a liking for surrounding the town hall with trees for quite a while.

Heres another pic showing the extension a little better with the obligatory obscuring trees.
http://web.aanet.com.au/sirbugalugs/junk/IMG_5795_1.jpg

More old postcards.

Port Melbourne Town Hall.

http://www.thecollectormm.com.au/gallery/postcards/Edwardian/slides/PortMelbourne2.jpg

Collingwood Town Hall.

http://www.thecollectormm.com.au/gallery/postcards/Edwardian/slides/Collingwood5.jpg

Old Footscray Town Hall.

http://www.thecollectormm.com.au/gallery/postcards/Edwardian/slides/Footscray2.jpg

South Melbourne Town Hall.

http://www.thecollectormm.com.au/gallery/postcards/Edwardian/slides/SouthMelbourne1.jpg

Dandenong Town Hall.

http://www.thecollectormm.com.au/gallery/postcards/1920s-1980s/slides/Dandenong3.jpg

South Melbourne town hall is sublime (the best in the country)....Footscray looks beautiful too.

Footscray looks beautiful too.
But, did you know that this old Footscray Town Hall was demolished and replaced.....

http://www.thecollectormm.com.au/gallery/postcards/Edwardian/slides/Footscray2.jpg

... with this.

http://www.thecollectormm.com.au/private/FootscrayTHall1940.jpg

Melbourne has the best collection by far...heres some of Adelaide anyway

Adelaide Town Hall
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3625/3603243582_b7e5123c2e_o.jpg
suey_j/flickr
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2123/2398511428_89918d6e32_b.jpg

Glenelg Town Hall

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3003/2572711697_92505fc6c6_b.jpg
cold_citrus/flickr

Norwood
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/95/218901660_ee5a40b28d_o.jpg
kerryj.com/flickr

But, did you know that this old Footscray Town Hall was demolished and replaced.....

http://www.thecollectormm.com.au/gallery/postcards/Edwardian/slides/Footscray2.jpg

... with this.

http://www.thecollectormm.com.au/private/FootscrayTHall1940.jpg

Bloody hell.....what was wrong with people back then?

Melbourne has the best collection by far...heres some of Adelaide anyway



She sure does :banana: Collingwood and Sth Melbourne are my two favourites..
My mother used to tell me when i was little kid that they where palaces with the fairy princess locked up in side...:lol:

Bloody hell.....what was wrong with people back then?

Really ??
The new Footscray Town Hall is better than the old one :)
It would of been nice to have saved it somehow, maybe moved to anouther spot, ah, owell, its gone now.....:(

Really ??
The new Footscray Town Hall is better than the old one :)
It would of been nice to have saved it somehow, maybe moved to anouther spot, ah, owell, its gone now.....:(

I love the newer one too but still don't see whay they had to demolish the old one.

Port Adelaide Town Hall
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3080/2852014201_5b887d2257_b.jpg
Peter Ede on Flickr

Hindmarsh Town Hall (now EDC)
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1325/1317888890_00d6839bc8_b.jpg
de-collette on Flickr

the greatest of all.
Sydney town hall
1868-1888
tallest classical town hall tower @ 61m.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1165/1159280000_9cbb7022b5_o.jpg

worlds largest grand organs
64ft.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/46/Sydney_Town_Hall_Grand_Organ.jpg

the lofty hall over 30m high
one of largest centennial halls in world
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/02/Sydney_Town_Hall_interior.jpg/800px-Sydney_Town_Hall_interior.jpg

Melbourne has the best collection by far...heres some of Adelaide anyway



I tend to agree, with daylight second.

Melbourne
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/120/267592875_bb8787d527_o.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/90/267587863_ac89ab24a6_o.jpg

Collingwood
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2163/1566000979_8caa42671c_b.jpg

Fitzroy
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1220/863489032_f0b7fb6dfa_b.jpg

Hawthorn
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2383/2724295088_0420f66e6a_b.jpg

South Melbourne
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2368/1585038493_68994f7fc2_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2190/1565994521_ad91f91961_b.jpg

Malvern
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2084/2409856902_d7236f1dbc_b.jpg

North Melbourne
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3253/2422722798_37b9050c08_b.jpg

St Kilda
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3278/2417304809_3563a41fac_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2038/2418122592_4116767921_b.jpg

some flippin awesome photos there dean

Old postcards of Melbourne Town Hall

http://www.thecollectormm.com.au/gallery/postcards/Edwardian/slides/Swanston10.jpg

http://www.thecollectormm.com.au/gallery/postcards/Edwardian/slides/Swanston11.jpg

http://www.thecollectormm.com.au/gallery/postcards/Edwardian/slides/Swanston12.jpg

http://www.thecollectormm.com.au/gallery/postcards/Edwardian/slides/Swanston13.jpg

http://www.thecollectormm.com.au/gallery/postcards/1920s-1980s/slides/TownHall2.jpg

http://www.thecollectormm.com.au/gallery/postcards/1920s-1980s/slides/TownHall3.jpg

the sydney one is very impressive indeed. that organ is bordering on the ridiculous.

hadn't seen South Melbourne before and agree its particularly impressive for the suburban ones aroudn Melbourne - helped by the fact it is in coloured sandstone rather than the somewhat tacky rendering jobs on St Kilda and Richmond Town halls. that picture of Richmond town hall on page one is 100 times nicer than what it looks like now, and the foreboding blackness of Collingwood town hall.

still love getting around the place and seeing the odd classic town hall in my travels.

St Kilda Town Hall recently reopened its ball room. apparantly one of the larger in Melbourne
found this article but no decent pics...
http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/decades-on-like-a-womans-memories-reborn-town-hall-is-a-thing-ofbeauty/2008/03/28/1206207413019.html

I must say the Sydney Town Hall is truly Eminent.

The eminent Melbourne suburban town halls have probably been covered by now, but here's some little pictures of a few more (plus a few repeats; from recollection Melbourne had 43 municipalities before the Kennett amalgamations, but I woudn't swear to that).

Malvern:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v294/ooompaloompa123/Melbourne/Townhalls-small/malv5625.jpg

Camberwell & North Melbourne:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v294/ooompaloompa123/Melbourne/Townhalls-small/camb5605.jpghttp://img.photobucket.com/albums/v294/ooompaloompa123/Melbourne/Townhalls-small/wstrip_80x540.jpghttp://img.photobucket.com/albums/v294/ooompaloompa123/Melbourne/Townhalls-small/nthmelb4984.jpg

Two town halls which I personally find somewhat lacking aesthetically: Richmond & Prahran (why is it I always have so much trouble spelling "Prahran" ?) :

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v294/ooompaloompa123/Melbourne/Townhalls-small/rich5554.jpghttp://img.photobucket.com/albums/v294/ooompaloompa123/Melbourne/Townhalls-small/wstrip_80x540.jpghttp://img.photobucket.com/albums/v294/ooompaloompa123/Melbourne/Townhalls-small/prahran5633.jpg

Some other notable municipal buildings in Victoria, further from Melbourne:

Ararat has both a Town Hall:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v294/ooompaloompa123/Regional/ararat/twnhall_6337.jpg

and a Shire Hall:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v294/ooompaloompa123/Regional/ararat/shrhall_6335.jpg

Pretty flash for a few hundred graziers.

This is quite common in Victoria: before amalgamation, there were lots of municipalities like the Shire of Ararat, that surrounded a city, but had their own arrangement.

The Ballarat Town Hall is what you'd expect: and that's half of it.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v294/ooompaloompa123/Regional/ballarat/th0982.jpg

Geelong has a T&G Building, in authentic style, & a Town Hall (Town Hall on the left, in the distance):

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v294/ooompaloompa123/Regional/Geelong/IMG_2350.jpg

Geelong- like Melbourne- formerly comprised many municipalities, and the legacy of this is a number of former municipal buildings boasting or struggling to maintain towers. The one below is at South Geelong, and I'm sure someone here can set me straight. I understand that it's a rooming house today, but what was it originally? Incidentally, check out the brick-work.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v294/ooompaloompa123/Regional/Geelong/sthgeelong-0226.jpg

the south brisbane town hall is an excellent piece of architecture. 1892 vintage
love the red brick
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3138/2617943046_07bfca92c5_b.jpg

^^^ South Brisbane Town Hall is something I had photos of forty-five years ago, since it was featured in the my Mum's "Women's Weekly" (in a series). I cut them all out, and pasted them into an album: which I still have: I don't think the Women's Weekly does architecture now.

They didn't do South Geelong ...

Fremantle's town hall:

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/154/429219742_8d70ecd7cc_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/97924761@N00/3333589119/

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1073/908484291_cbb334de7b_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/10510382@N02/908484291/

Perth's town hall:

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/102/290551887_a979af2507_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bonnieandclydeaus/290551887/

I never knew Brighton (Victoria) had a Guggenheim town hall ...and look at posting no. 5. in this thread. Richmond?

Not sure , but has the old Sunshine, the new Sunshine, and the Brimbank offices been covered here? Probably the first time I touched a girl (apart from my sister) was in the old Sunshine Town Hall. Eminent town halls indeed.

Its just amazing to see the size and quality of the old Victorian Town halls .
No doubt the councils back in those times were trying to outdo each other for style and opulence. Imagine the billions it would cost to build similar structures today .Thank god for the gold rush!

more from sydney
Balmain town hall,
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3648/3575891352_eac374b647_b.jpg

paddington
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/217/478389255_00ddcc373e_o.jpg

Brisbane doesn't have a town hall, it has a city hall :(

http://www.thewebconsole.com/imgmagick/path/S3DB103/c_images/48d050efa1b32.jpg

Gorgeous. Love those columns. ^^

Restoration work is about to commenced on the clock tower of the Stonnington City Centre. Scafolding is 1/2 way up and supprting the upper levels of scafolding will be very interesting.

Oh, and if you get a chance to see the interior of the Prahran City Hall next month, please do, as its been totally restored to its former glory. Windows re-opened, plastwork missing replaced etc.. The Prahran Town Hall is closing later on today for its restoration.

Brisbane, Sydney & South Melbourne are the winners for me :okay:



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v294/ooompaloompa123/Melbourne/Townhalls-small/rich5554.jpg

I remember a time, about ten years ago, when the left clock face of the Richmond Town Hall was peppered with bullet holes from when the cops stationed next door got a bit rowdy one night & decided to use it for target practice :lol:

it stayed like that for quite a while, if I remember right.

Photos I've taken over the last five years. :)

Two of Ballarat Town Hall

http://www.thecollectormm.com.au/gallery/photography/Suburbs%20and%20Regional/slides/Ballarat2.jpg

http://www.thecollectormm.com.au/gallery/photography/Suburbs%20and%20Regional/slides/Ballarat3.jpg

Beechworth Shire Hall

http://www.thecollectormm.com.au/gallery/photography/Suburbs%20and%20Regional/slides/Beechworth7.jpg

Bendigo Town Hall

http://www.thecollectormm.com.au/gallery/photography/Suburbs%20and%20Regional/slides/Bendigo3.jpg

Maryborough Town Hall

http://www.thecollectormm.com.au/gallery/photography/Suburbs%20and%20Regional/slides/Maryborough10.jpg

Castlemaine Town Hall

http://www.thecollectormm.com.au/gallery/photography/Suburbs%20and%20Regional/slides/Castlemaine14.jpg

Melbourne Town Hall taken this afternoon.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3470/3733613509_252d17f3b1_b.jpg

Brisbane, Sydney & South Melbourne are the winners for me :okay:

So you don't think much of the Classical uninterrupted horizontal parapets? Better something , as they we would say out here, "sticking up" ?

I remember a time, about ten years ago, when the left clock face of the Richmond Town Hall was peppered with bullet holes from when the cops stationed next door got a bit rowdy one night & decided to use it for target practice :lol:

it stayed like that for quite a while, if I remember right.

Just as well I live in the western suburbs! (oops! ducks!) The cops are too busy out here for that sort of thing.

So you don't think much of the Classical uninterrupted horizontal parapets? Better something , as they we would say out here, "sticking up" ?

I guess they do all have a kind of... 'common theme' :tongue2:

I know I'm not the first here to photograph this building:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v294/ooompaloompa123/Melbourne/Clocktowers/sthmelbtwnhall1004-0061.jpg

but it's my first photo of South Melbourne Town Hall, & the light seemed just right.

South Melbourne or Brisbane are Australia's most amazing and beautiful.


A modern one. Manningham Town Hall

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/09/Manningham_Civic_Centre.jpg

Though it was partially gutted by fire not to long ago.

Sydney Town Halls

Sydney Town Hall
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3403/3259613911_458eea1224_o.jpg
EOS_3 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/26519268@N08/3259613911/)

Glebe Town Hall
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2690/4088475363_ca95d163af_o.jpg
ghee (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ghee/4088475363/)

Leichhardt Town Hall
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1181/817368909_276e3b4ab7_b.jpg
Tony Rodd (http://www.flickr.com/photos/tony_rodd/817368909/)

Balmain Town Hall
http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/photos/medium/22023786.jpg
aylianna (http://www.panoramio.com/photo/22023786)

Paddington town hall
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3372/3437944146_dfdb65ca24_b.jpg
dunedoo (http://www.flickr.com/photos/29029178@N03/3437944146/)

Randwick Town Hall
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1390/1223057550_908d27250b_b.jpg
betta design (http://www.flickr.com/photos/betta_design/1223057550/)

Parramatta Town Hall
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4051/4232695586_ece114ecee_o.jpg
enol~ (http://www.flickr.com/photos/dumarc/4232695586/)

Pymble Town Hall
I think the building’s a former church.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3034/2724695774_8020e30990.jpg
Jiulong (http://www.flickr.com/photos/10816453@N00/2724695774/)

Rockdale Town Hall
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/48/Rockdale_Town_Hall.jpg/800px-Rockdale_Town_Hall.jpg
Rockdale, New South Wales - Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rockdale,_New_South_Wales)

Some more Sydney Town Halls

Newtown Town Hall
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/67/190630668_7bcd63fcc1_b.jpg
yewenyi (http://www.flickr.com/photos/yewenyi/190630668/)

Campbelltown Town Hall
http://img413.imageshack.us/img413/733/ctownhall.jpg
http://www.campbelltown.nsw.gov.au/

Redfern Town Hall
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/57/Redfern_Town_Hall.JPG/800px-Redfern_Town_Hall.JPG
Redfern, New South Wales – Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redfern,_New_South_Wales)

Alexandria Town Hall
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/34/Alexandria_Town_Hall.JPG/800px-Alexandria_Town_Hall.JPG
Alexandria, New South Wales - Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexandria,_New_South_Wales)

I really like the Parramatta Town Hall, for some reason I think it is cute looking too with the bells on it and the warm paint colours.

Being a resident of Manningham for a while, the Manningham Town Hall doesn't have the sense of community pride like other town halls in this thread as it seem to sit on its own surrounded by carparks. :(

Does have a nice view from it though.

Man, Melbourne's town halls "pwn" the rest of Australia's.

Fitzroy Town Hall...

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BjA9HB5RzRc/Sw90XNeTCKI/AAAAAAAADoA/RQbtO-v0-RY/s1600/FitzTownHall.JPG

Collingwood Town Hall, by 'Chris&Steve' on Flickr.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3088/2395174593_d61a0bfeb4_b.jpg

The Brunswick Town Hall, on Sydney Road.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3020/3108718073_827e62b2af_b.jpg
By sfintii_apostoli on Flickr.

Hawthorn Town Hall

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1412/3336605297_1a334cec37.jpg

Glenferrie Town Hall

http://www.sydneyarchitecture.com/images/Malvern_town_hall.jpg

http://img301.imageshack.us/img301/7493/malvern12fm.jpg
By Walking melbourne on Imageshack.

I really like the Parramatta Town Hall, for some reason I think it is cute looking too with the bells on it and the warm paint colours.

Being a resident of Manningham for a while, the Manningham Town Hall doesn't have the sense of community pride like other town halls in this thread as it seem to sit on its own surrounded by carparks. :(

Does have a nice view from it though.

ME TOO!

How about some more interiors ?

Here are some I have recently taken of Ballarat Town Hall which is currently undergoing external restoration.

http://www.walkingmelbourne.com/forum/download/file.php?id=512

http://www.walkingmelbourne.com/forum/download/file.php?id=506

There is a whole thread with more interior pics and restoration photos here:
http://www.walkingmelbourne.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=6014&start=0

Another shot of Malvern Town Hall:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v294/ooompaloompa123/Melbourne/Clocktowers/malv5625.jpg

Camberwell:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v294/ooompaloompa123/Melbourne/Clocktowers/camb5605.jpg

& Hawthorn:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v294/ooompaloompa123/Melbourne/Clocktowers/hawth5572.jpg

(all the same day, on a walking tour of the town halls of the inner eastern suburbs!)

Holla from Vienna
Wiener Rathaus
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2093/1810087250_fd56e6eb69_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/chorizo431/1810087250/sizes/l/
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4008/4501721371_4f96bd4b4d_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sempreingiro/4501721371/sizes/l/
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2060/2433326517_ff9534be45_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cprokop/2433326517/sizes/l/

^^ Wien, predictably, is pretty good. I have a model of the Munchen rathaus which I lovingly assembled almost three decades aogo sitting on my bookshelves.

Holla from Vienna
Wiener Rathaus

and the interior from Wikipedia ...

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5b/Festsaal_Rathaus_Vienna_2007.jpg/434px-Festsaal_Rathaus_Vienna_2007.jpg

Wish Melbourne had at least one gothic revival style town hall ... how unlucky it was not to. I guess we're lucky it was the style chosen for so many commercial buildings.

Really envy the Manchester Town Hall and Rathaus

Nunawading Civic Centre, found on http://www.walkingmelbourne.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=535
http://img301.imageshack.us/img301/1199/nunawading18kj.jpg

Box Hill Town Hall, in the same municipality as the one above but now superseded by the Nunawading centre from http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Box_Hill_Town_Hall_0151.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b6/Box_Hill_Town_Hall_0151.jpg/500px-Box_Hill_Town_Hall_0151.jpg

^^:lol:did you post them as a joke? boxhills one isn't too bad but nunawading? Even Dandynong has a better town hall!

^^:lol:did you post them as a joke? boxhills one isn't too bad but nunawading? Even Dandynong has a better town hall!
Lol it's relevant because in the same municpality one is the present town hall, the other is a community space run by the council now (prev a town hall). We need representation of lots of different sorts! :lol:

Have to say the Box Hill one definitely looks less ornate and more suburban than the ones in inner Melbourne.

Another suburban one from a different architectural period, Heidelberg Town Hall (in Ivanhoe) from http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Heidelberg_Town_Hall_01a.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6e/Heidelberg_Town_Hall_01a.jpg/700px-Heidelberg_Town_Hall_01a.jpg

Old Town Hall - Southport, Gold Coast (1935)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3419/3311626742_7426d5c4a0_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/thetannykid/3311626742/sizes/l/


Gold Coast City Hall (2003)

http://www.bvn.com.au/BVN/internet/site.nsf/files/NSYD-65G7G8-20041005-143844/$file/B_Gold_Coast_City_Council.jpg

Footscray Town Hall:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v294/ooompaloompa123/Melbourne/Daily/footwnhall_1441.jpg

Ararat has both a town & a shire hall, being formerly the seat of two municipalities:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v294/ooompaloompa123/Regional/ararat/twnhall_6337.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v294/ooompaloompa123/Regional/ararat/shrhall_6335.jpg

Maryborough (Victoria):

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v294/ooompaloompa123/Regional/goldfields/mary_townhall_7824.jpg

Ballarat:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v294/ooompaloompa123/Regional/ballarat/th0982.jpg

The Gold Coast City Hall looks great. Very swish.

My local town hall, North Melbourne.

http://creativespaces.net.au.s5650.gridserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/north-melbourne-town-hall-jpg-546x363.jpg

I guess this one is from the period when it was under construction. It's considerably larger now.

http://www.hothamhistory.org.au/images/Hotham_Town_Hall.JPG

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2313/2461463932_649381a0fc_o.jpg

http://static.panoramio.com/photos/original/12744508.jpg

Old Town Hall - Southport, Gold Coast (1935)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3419/3311626742_7426d5c4a0_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/thetannykid/3311626742/sizes/l/


Gold Coast City Hall (2003)

http://www.bvn.com.au/BVN/internet/site.nsf/files/NSYD-65G7G8-20041005-143844/$file/B_Gold_Coast_City_Council.jpg

nice old art deco one there. from memory i didn't think gc had much art deco...

nice old art deco one there. from memory i didn't think gc had much art deco...

I think it may be the only one, or at least the only one still standing. The Gold Coast doesn't have a history of "wealth", so most things were here were made of shitty old wood. Hence why they've now been torn down, or were more than likely eaten by Termites.

Does Melbournes as a whole have Australia's best halls?

I think so, what do YOU think?

^^thats already been discussed. Refer to post 20 (by one of the most patriotic sydney siders on this site).

Brisbane's CITY Hall currently closed due to repairs ,these repairs will cost 200m$ approx and take up to 2 years to be carried out.

http://img255.imageshack.us/img255/894/dsc01462i.jpg (http://img255.imageshack.us/i/dsc01462i.jpg/)

http://img72.imageshack.us/img72/1669/dsc01463z.jpg (http://img72.imageshack.us/i/dsc01463z.jpg/)

The Sydney Town Hall has always reminded me of Philadelphia City Hall:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3178/3030497578_1bc1a32c46.jpg

The plaza in front of the Brisbane City Hall is beautiful. Well designed and well sit and very safe and full of activity. :D

Stonnington City Centre (formerly the Malvern Town Hall)

http://www.sydneyarchitecture.com/images/Malvern%20Town%20Hall%202400.JPG

http://www.stonnington.vic.gov.au/resources/images/MalvernTownHall-related.jpg

http://cache2.asset-cache.net/xc/90110597.jpg?v=1&c=IWSAsset&k=2&d=A7B69CF049AC90057EF86B652C5CE3255AB37D5706553B68CF1E723F01416C83

http://www.resolutionx.com.au/gallery/malvern_town_hall_modified.jpg

suburban town halls Adelaide style

1st up St Peters, just a couple of streets away is my local, cute little town hall in typical Adelaide bluestone. St Peters merged with neighbour Kensington & Norwood so not much happens here anymore
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4011/4550443772_4b1fde815c_b.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4063/4550446696_e385f508cc_b.jpg

2nd up Norwood. Home of my local council and retail/cafe/restaurant hub of the inner eastern suburbs. This is in typical Adl sandstone

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4009/4549798923_1f1ced495c_b.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4050/4550441612_f8294fa91c_b.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4022/4549800625_6329657ef7_b.jpg
The large part at the back is the Norwood Concert hall.

last one for today, Unley Town hall in the south. Downtown Unley is like a nice, quaint little old shopping village apart from one major problem. Its situated on a busy arterial road
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4043/4550424032_49d5c20e73_b.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4013/4550426350_fe00c8fdb3_b.jpg

the surrounding streets
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4008/4550431432_ae0f810193_b.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4028/4550433766_9646986294_b.jpg

NORTHCOTE TOWN HALL

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1261/1425306251_33aa95aab6.jpg?v=0
http://www.whitehat.com.au/images/Melbourne/NorthciteTH.jpg
http://home.vicnet.net.au/~nhcs/townhall.gif

Northcote Town Hall (with never built tower)
http://dhe.darebin-libraries.vic.gov.au/uploaded/images/lhrn1854.jpg

^^wow thanks for sharing AS! Would have been something. Has anyone got the original st kilda town hall plans

I was almost going to start a thread and walla this one has been bumped up. :)

Leichhardt Town Hall
Leichhardt, NSW
Muncipality of Leichhardt

http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/23/img39822.jpg
By fabianamuso (http://profile.imageshack.us/user/fabianamuso) at 2011-10-28

http://img848.imageshack.us/img848/2417/img39832.jpg
By fabianamuso (http://profile.imageshack.us/user/fabianamuso) at 2011-10-29

http://img249.imageshack.us/img249/7558/img39842.jpg
By fabianamuso (http://profile.imageshack.us/user/fabianamuso) at 2011-10-29

http://img269.imageshack.us/img269/8951/img39932.jpg
By fabianamuso (http://profile.imageshack.us/user/fabianamuso) at 2011-10-29

http://img836.imageshack.us/img836/3882/img40062.jpg
By fabianamuso (http://profile.imageshack.us/user/fabianamuso) at 2011-10-29

http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/6414/img40142.jpg
By fabianamuso (http://profile.imageshack.us/user/fabianamuso) at 2011-10-29

http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/1934/img40072.jpg
By fabianamuso (http://profile.imageshack.us/user/fabianamuso) at 2011-10-28

The Brisbane Times posted a story today about the reopening of the newly restored Sandgate Town Hall in Brisbane. Not as grand as, say, City Hall or South Brisbane Town Hall, but still a nice looking building.

Sandgate's renewed charm
Tony Moore
December 13, 2011 - 3:00AM
Be the first to comment

http://images.brisbanetimes.com.au/2011/12/12/2834713/sandgate_729-420x0.jpg
Sandgate Town Hall has been given a facelift. Photo: Tony Moore

Sandgate is giving Brisbane a run for its money with the weekend opening of its fully-restored Town Hall, a year before Brisbane gets to see its City Hall fully restored.

Over the weekend, the people of Sandgate celebrated the opening of the fully-restored Sandgate Town Hall, nestled among the trees of its beautifully-recreated 'single-storey' town centre.

Designed by architect Thomas Ramsay Hall, the L-shaped building is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register as an "excellent example of a Federation style civic building in Queensland".

http://images.brisbanetimes.com.au/2011/12/12/2834714/sandgate_729a-420x0.jpg
Builders Mike Tomkins and his father Vince Tomkins inside the old town hall. Photo: Tony Moore

After leaving Sandgate, Mr Hall went into partnership with GG Prentice (1919-29) and designed the Brisbane City Hall and later, the McWhirters corner block in Fortitude Valley.

Work on Sandgate's second Town Hall began 100 years ago, in October 1911, and was officially opened after a gala ball in September the following year.

The building was constructed in 11 months, at a cost of £5000, including £300 for furnishing.

http://images.brisbanetimes.com.au/2011/12/12/2834748/sandgate_729b-420x0.jpg
The view from the stage.

Sandgate's first town hall, in what is now known as Pier Avenue, was destroyed by fire in May 1910.

Back then Sandgate was its own town - outside of Brisbane City - and the Town Hall was designed and built to recognise the tremendous growth in the popular seaside town.

The Brisbane Telegraph in September 23, 1912 reported Sandgate's growth was accelerating.

"The (Sandgate) Council recognised that the town was progressing, about 300 new houses had ben erected during the last three years," it reported.

"They had not erected a building for the present day only, but one which could serve the town and district for a considerable time."

A hundred years later, that was reflected in the success of attracting money from the Australian government to help restore the rundown brick and timber town hall.

And on the weekend, Sandgate declared its heritage-listed Town Hall open.

The $3.9 million restoration came courtesy of $2.2 million from the federal government, $1.5 million from Brisbane City Council and a $200,000 industry grant to restore the delicate, pressed metal ceilings.

Tomkins Commercial and Industrial Builders won the contract for the building work which included completely air-conditioning the Town Hall.

They have replaced the timber flooring, restored the rare interlocked "English modern" brickwork, built new staircases, remodelled the downstairs kitchen and green room, repaired the old interior pressed-tin walls and ceilings and removed old asbestos roof and wall sheeting.

The heritage-listed exterior remains intact, with a new paint job and newly restored entrances.

The major part of the work was repairing the ceilings and installing new audio-visual equipment to accentuate the hall's natural acoustics.

Mike Tomkins said the work was extensive, but ultimately rewarding.

"The ceiling was about 100 years old, so we had to pull the ceiling out and install all the structure up inside the ceiling and then hang all the pendant lights," he said.

Each set of pendant lights is worth around $25,000, he said.

The lights were chosen by Brisbane City Council's heritage unit and the ceiling is covered in pressed metal.

"Everything that comes out is numbered, carefully taken out and carefully put back in the same way," Mr Tomkins said.

"So when you pull out several panels, it can only work one way. So when you pull it out, you have to carefully put it back in. It's quite an art. Not a lot of contractors can do it successfully.

"What makes it special is that you are pulling apart history and putting back history."

The Sandgate Town Hall became the hub of the town of Sandgate during the first world war.

"This is where the soldiers came to register here in World War I," Mr Tomkins said.

"I think that is what gives it a real sense of history here.

"It is bringing an old facility into a time when it is now fully air-conditioned, new theatre, yet keeping all the old characteristics of an old building to a new use."

One example is the old seating in the upstairs gallery, made of hoop pine and wrought iron.

They feature a "rolling" last support bar on each seat, to make it easier for the patron to rise from a seated position.

Mike's father, Vince Tomkins, who has worked as a builder for 60 years, said he was delighted to work on restoring the brickwork in the hall.

"There are some very fine examples in the main walls of what is called English modern brickwork where every second course runs sideways, overlapping and tying the two courses together," he said.

Underneath the new floor of the hall - where the new air-conditioning works have been built - the brickwork is three bricks wide, making the interlacing system more complex.

Separate concrete slabs have been lain to prevent vibration from air conditioning equipment moving up into the floor via the stumps supporting the building.

Local councillor Victoria Newton said the Town Hall's renovation was the talk of Sandgate over the weekend and the work ensured the building would continue to be used into the future.

Today it used by the Sandgate Theatre Company, immunisation clinics, World Vision and a mix of community groups.

"It is also used by groups like Music By The Sea who have their first festival back in the hall on January 6, 7 and 8," Cr Newton said.

"So is really used by weddings, parties and anything," she said.

The clock in the Sandgate Town Hall was made in London for people of Ipswich, outside Brisbane and placed in their School of Arts Building.

However a new Post Office – with its own chiming clock was built after Federation – and in 1913 the clock was bought and sold to Sandgate Town Council in 1913.

It sat under a private house for 10 years before being installed in the Town Hall in 1923.

More recently a new roof was installed in 1984 and the hall and nearby library was re-wired in 1987.

Tomkins Builders have also been awarded the contract to restore the Queensland Maritime Museum at South Bank.



Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/sandgates-renewed-charm-20111212-1or7n.html#ixzz1gNckVGGt

I really love the squared random rubble style shown in Eastadl's post. Especially the St Peters Town Hall.

Are there any Town Halls in western Sydney? I grew up in the Hawkesbury Region and i can only remember "council offices" being the head of the LGA.
Richmond and Windsor were around from the early 1800s but they don't seem to have ever had Town Halls?

Some Town Halls from other places i've lived.
NSW
Newcastle Town Hall.
http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6075/6118571179_a7628c6973_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/23268776@N03/6118571179/)
Town Hall - Newcastle, NSW - 1929 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/23268776@N03/6118571179/) by DBHKer (http://www.flickr.com/people/23268776@N03/), on Flickr

Glen Innes Town Hall. (Check out the Deer Head above the clockface!)
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5007/5315237692_3064fa0b30_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/36583158@N06/5315237692/)
Town Hall (http://www.flickr.com/photos/36583158@N06/5315237692/) by kfm9211 (http://www.flickr.com/people/36583158@N06/), on Flickr

QLD
Toowoomba City Hall
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3230/2617943050_2cc789b6d3_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/23268776@N03/2617943050/)
Town Hall - Toowoomba, QLD - 1900 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/23268776@N03/2617943050/) by DBHKer (http://www.flickr.com/people/23268776@N03/), on Flickr

I really love the squared random rubble style shown in Eastadl's post. Especially the St Peters Town Hall.
lol. that's an interesting description. Not sure what you mean, but perhaps you're refering to the exposed stone as it is known in architectural terms, as opposed to your 'Flintstones' description, cute as it may be. :)

The St Peters town hall building is sad really, incomplete architecturally, lacking detail if you look closely at it, and could do with a serious restoration today. There are arguably (well imo they are indeed), better looking and grander town halls in the westerm suburbs of Adelaide, and not all still serving their original purpose anymore, including a couple in Australian art deco style.

Woodville Town Hall: notice that it's still restrained but with the detailing you'd expect on a building like this; lintels, ballustrades, corbels etc, unlike St Peters which was either never there or stripped away later. Woodville is one example from the western suburbs of Adelaide. It also has a very well designed modern civic centre attached to it.
http://www.dasharchitects.com.au/i_slides/b_wood01.jpg
http://www.dasharchitects.com.au/

Actually on closer inspection it does seem like perhaps they tried to 'modernise' St Peters some time ago, but botched it really with what looks like aluminium windows etc, very unsympathetic.

lol. that's an interesting description. Not sure what you mean, but perhaps you're refering to the exposed stone as it is known in architectural terms, as opposed to your 'Flintstones' description, cute as it may be. :)


Needs more pretentious condescension.

lol. that's an interesting description. Not sure what you mean, but perhaps you're refering to the exposed stone as it is known in architectural terms, as opposed to your 'Flintstones' description, cute as it may be. :)

The St Peters town hall building is sad really, incomplete architecturally, lacking detail if you look closely at it, and could do with a serious restoration today. There are arguably (well imo they are indeed), better looking and grander town halls in the westerm suburbs of Adelaide, and not all still serving their original purpose anymore, including a couple in Australian art deco style.

Woodville Town Hall: notice that it's still restrained but with the detailing you'd expect on a building like this; lintels, ballustrades, corbels etc, unlike St Peters which was either never there or stripped away later. Woodville is one example from the western suburbs of Adelaide. It also has a very well designed modern civic centre attached to it.
http://www.dasharchitects.com.au/i_slides/b_wood01.jpg
http://www.dasharchitects.com.au/

Actually on closer inspection it does seem like perhaps they tried to 'modernise' St Peters some time ago, but botched it really with what looks like aluminium windows etc, very unsympathetic.

Yep, i was referring to the method of laying the stone. The design of building itself is definitely so-so. :)

Random Rubble is a traditional stonemasonry term rather than an architectural term. I've seen a lot of it in SA pics and it seems to be mostly very high quality. It just happens to be my favourite style of stonemasonry.

It was generally used where stonemasons couldn't find a good supply of quarried "dimension" stone which could then be shaped and carved accurately. There was obviously a short supply of good stone in Adelaides early days.

Glenelg Town Hall
http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2739/4224573957_6e7c398f15_o.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikecogh/4224573957/

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2735/4181575267_72350aa048_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mattcitizen/4181575267/sizes/l/in/photostream/

Yep, i was referring to the method of laying the stone. The design of building itself is definitely so-so. :)

Random Rubble is a traditional stonemasonry term rather than an architectural term. I've seen a lot of it in SA pics and it seems to be mostly very high quality. It just happens to be my favourite style of stonemasonry. Yeah you're right random rubble is a stone masonry term, but most of Adelaide's stone buildings, including many public institutions, pubs and domestic housing are more than often dressed stone-work and not really jointed or random rubble masonry, which is more irregular and unshaped stonework. There are some notable exceptions of course like the Migration Museum, formerly an asylum.

http://img809.imageshack.us/img809/240/migmuseum3.jpg (http://img809.imageshack.us/i/migmuseum3.jpg/)

And this former pub, amongst others.
http://img193.imageshack.us/img193/3922/adelpub1.jpg (http://img193.imageshack.us/i/adelpub1.jpg/)


It was generally used where stonemasons couldn't find a good supply of quarried "dimension" stone which could then be shaped and carved accurately. There was obviously a short supply of good stone in Adelaides early days. Interesting you say that, because now I will look at those random rubble constructions and think they may well be older than the regular patterned dressed-stone buildings. Though I must admit, subconsciously I've always felt they were older, pioneering and more 'primitive' for want of a better word.

There may have been a short, or let's say unexploited amount of good stone in Adelaide to begin with, that's why they used much timber back then destroying the vast Adelaide plains forrests (sadly), but when they did find it and the means to extract it, it was glorious and plentiful, and was used extensively, perhaps more than elsewhere, and hence more heritage buildings in a variety of stones; bluestone, slate, sandstone, limestone, marble etc, and exposed to show of its varied and ethereal beauty. Adelaide's marvellous classical-style parliament house is in majestic grey marble from Kapunda (north of Adelaide) and that region, where many Cornish people settled, was the source of much stone. The Cornish were renowned miners and stone masons and Burra, Kapunda and other towns have many heritage buildings in stone, especially random rubble. I imagine you'd love it Arrels.

http://www.heritagebuildingsofsouthaustralia.com.au/burra.htm

Thanks for the link Skymantle. It looks like there's some great old buildings in Burra.

Balmain Town Hall
Balmain, NSW
Balmain Council (merged with Annandale and Leichhardt Councils in 1948 to form the Muncipality of Leichhardt)

The building dates back to 1888.

http://img696.imageshack.us/img696/7044/img4676h.jpg
By fabianamuso (http://profile.imageshack.us/user/fabianamuso) at 2012-01-07

http://img16.imageshack.us/img16/9737/img4681a.jpg
By fabianamuso (http://profile.imageshack.us/user/fabianamuso) at 2012-01-07

For an old building it looks quite tasteless.

Willoughby Council doesn't have a formal Town Hall. It had it but demolished it to make way for Civic Chamber. The actual council chamber is in bottom floors of Sebel Apartments.

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6096/6266290586_fc1d9d9308_b.jpg
(photo by rickeyre)

A number of Sydney councils are like that Kogarah Council doesn't have a town hall, and they meet in a council chambers building. Same with Sutherland Council.