Corporation Corruption

The competition for a design for the new Town Hall generated the first of many allegations of impropriety concerning its construction. The first competition announced by the Council in 1867 called for a design costing £25,000. There were 17 entries, none of which could be built for this amount. So a second competition was held by the Council, this time with designs not to exceed £35,0000. The Council selected 3 finalists, two of which J. H. Willson had submitted. Allegations of bribery of 2 aldermen followed, and the prizes were withdrawn. The City Engineer Edward Bell was asked to modify one of Willson’s designs, but at the same time Willson was invited by the Mayor to act as an architectural adviser. Confusion over who was responsible for designing the Town Hall continued for many years. Sydney Punch satirised the Council’s shenanigans in its cartoon “Re-awarding the Prizes; or Municipal Tiddle-e-winking”. It also published in the same edition a poem reflecting on the events called “Corporation Corruption”, which went in part,

Said the Mayor, “This I find is a task rather queer
To select three designs when all first-class appear;
But I think I’ve a dodge which will save us from that –
Let’s pick the first three by a shake in the hat!”

In vain was his speech, for most present confest
The first prize was was gain by design “Treu und Fest”,
That “City” was second they also concurred,
And the Mayor’s casting vote gave to “Bunyip” the third.

But then uprose Hurley, who cried “Here’s a go!
There’s swindling in this, for I happen to know
One Ryan, who said for my vote – as I live –
A hundred pounds down on the nail he would give!”

Cried Alderman Butler, “That’s true, I declare,
For he made the same offer to me, I will swear;
And my private opinion, which public I’ll make,
Is that some here have managed his money to take!”

(image: Sydney Punch, 3 October 1868. Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales)