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Hobart Town Hall

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Coordinates: 42°52′57″S 147°19′51″E / 42.8825°S 147.3309°E / -42.8825; 147.3309
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Not to be confused with Hobart City Hall.

Hobart Town Hall
Front facade.
Map
General information
Architectural styleNeo-Renaissance
LocationHobart, Tasmania, Australia
Coordinates42°52′57″S 147°19′51″E / 42.8825°S 147.3309°E / -42.8825; 147.3309
Construction started1864
Completed1866
OwnerHobart City Council
Design and construction
Architect(s)Henry Hunter
References
[1]

Hobart Town Hall is a landmark sandstone building which serves as seat of the City of Hobart local government area, hosting council meetings as well as acting as public auditorium that can be hired from the council.[2] It is also open to periodic public tours, featuring its ornate Victorian auditorium and the Town Hall organ which has been in use since 1870.[1]

History

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Henry Hunter's plans for Hobart Town Hall
Hobart Town Hall undergoing repairs to its portico in 1925

Construction of the town hall was begun in 1864, with the foundation stone laid on April 14, which was declared a public holiday and celebrated by a parade. It was completed two years later in September 1866, which was celebrated by another public holiday and a gala ball.[3] The design by Henry Hunter[1] was somewhat inspired by the Palazzo Farnese in Rome.[4] At the time of construction, it was designed to house the City of Hobart's council chambers, as well as police offices, the municipal court and the State Library of Tasmania.[1] These remained in use for nearly fifty years after the town hall was opened.[5] It, along with Franklin Square, were built on the site of the former government house which had been demolished upon completion of the present government house.[6]

By 1925 the state of the halls prominent portico had degenerated to the point it was declared unsafe and major restoration work had to be undertaken.[7]

The building's well-known chandeliers were installed in the Town Hall's ballroom by former Lord Mayor Doone Kennedy.[8][9]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Open Doors - Hobart Town Hall". Heritage Tasmania. Retrieved 5 February 2014.
  2. ^ "Town Hall". Hobart City Council. Retrieved 5 February 2014.
  3. ^ Paine, Michelle (15 April 2014). "Hobart Town Hall foundation stone a 150-year blast from the past". The Mercury. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
  4. ^ "Hobart Town Hall". Lonely Planet. Retrieved 5 February 2014.
  5. ^ "Hobart's Town Hall gaol cells". ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation).
  6. ^ Somerville, J. "Government Houses in Hobart Town" (PDF). Royal Society of Tasmania. Retrieved 5 February 2014.
  7. ^ "Hobart Town Hall - State of the Portico". The Mercury. 22 September 1925. Retrieved 5 February 2014.
  8. ^ "A great loss to us all as charismatic former Hobart lord mayor Doone Kennedy dies after short illness". The Mercury (Hobart). 31 August 2014. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
  9. ^ Mather, Anne (1 September 2014). "Hobart's only female lord mayor Doone Kennedy leaves her mark on city". The Mercury (Hobart). Retrieved 2 October 2014.
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