Building It

The Grand Organ was to be the centre piece of the Main Hall. But although it had arrived in Sydney the week before the November 1889 opening, months were required to install it in the town hall. The organ was built by Messrs William Hill & Son, specialist organ builders in London, and had to be shipped in 94 packing cases. When the organ finally made its debut on 9 August 1890 before an audience of 4000, the occasion rivalled the opening of the Main Hall. The Sydney Morning Herald carried extensive instructions on traffic arrangements – there were special trains laid on from the suburbs – and advised of a system of colour-coded tickets for various entranceways to the Town Hall. John Sands & Co. produced an illustrated publication for the event, entitled ‘The Grand Centennial Organ’.

(image: City of Sydney Archives, CRS 46/1/65)

In 1892 the steps to the Town Hall were removed and a ‘porte-cochère’ constructed in their place, making the entrance more inviting to those wealthy enough to arrive in carriages. The original palisade fence around the Town Hall was also removed and replaced with one ‘more in character’. The Town Clerk Henry Daniel said in his 1892 annual report: ‘While not meeting with general approval from an artistic point of view, [the porte-cochère] is admitted to be architecturally correct in character. Its utility, however, is undoubted, and commends it to the comfort and convenience of the citizens.’ This photograph, taken in the 1910s, shows the porte-cochère and fence with its new art-nouveau style lamps on the gate posts and balcony. The view down Druitt Street across to Darling Harbour is unimpeded.

(image: City of Sydney Archives, CRS 80/13)

The construction of the Town Hall underground railway station in the early 1930s resulted in significant building and landscaping changes. The porte-cochère began to crack and had to be propped during the duration of railway construction. Scaffolding began to creep upwards as concerns mounted about the stability of the clock tower.

(image: City of Sydney Archives, CRS 46/1/43)

In 1934 the fence around the Town Hall was removed and the porte-cochère was demolished. A competition was held, with a £150 first prize, to design the new entranceway. There were 55 entrants and the prize was won by architect Mr A. H. Brown with a design similar to one already proposed by the City Engineer, which was subsequently used. Brown was reported in Truth on 13 May 1933 as saying ‘I cannot say I’m upset but I’m naturally disappointed. It’s one thing to win the competition but I’d hoped to see the design realised.’ A wide flight of steps were built, which restored the entrance to its original grand entrance-way form.

(image: City of Sydney Archives, CRS 46/1/51)

As well as creating a grand entrance from George Street, the Town Hall steps provide a place for sitting, eating lunch and meeting people. How many people in Sydney have not at some time said ‘meet me at the Town Hall steps’ – business people, train commuters, lovers, ladies with luncheon dates.

(image: City of Sydney)

The Council’s Electricity Department and sales showroom (Block A) in 1933. It is on the site of the present Town Hall House, Druitt Street.

(image: City of Sydney Archives, CRS 46/1/21)

This aerial photograph taken c.1960s shows the accretion of office and storage buildings that had sprung up behind the Town Hall to accommodate staff. Planning is underway to demolish these buildings and construct Town Hall House.

(image: City of Sydney Archives, CRS 385/13)

Town Hall House, with its Brutalist style of architecture, was designed by Ancher Mortlock and Woolley and officially opened on 28 June 1977. It houses City of Sydney Council staff. This view looks south down Kent Street, 1977. The Town Hall and its clock tower – once a visible landmark in the city - is dwarfed in the background.

(image: City of Sydney Archives, CRS 80/195)

Town Hall House forms a public civic precinct with Sydney Square (also designed by Ancher Mortlock and Woolley) and St Andrews House (designed by Noel Bell Ridley Smith and Partners). Although designed by different architects, St Andrews House uses similar materials and its overall architectural intent is in keeping with Town Hall House. The Sydney Square project is an interesting example of urban planning, where cooperation between the city, church and architects produced what some architects describe as “a harmonious complex of building forms and interweaving spaces”. (RAIA, Sydney Since the Opera House: An Architectural Walking Guide, 1990) Others just think it looks like the Town Hall is sinking into the pebble-crete mud of Sydney Square.

(image: City of Sydney)