HIRING TOWN HALL

DID YOU KNOW?

Sydney Town Hall is built on the site of Sydney's first official European cemetery.

The Vestibule chandelier is lit with has over 170 lamps and is lowered twice a year for maintenance and cleaning.

The Vestibule chandelier is lit with over 170 lamps and is lowered twice a year for maintenance and cleaning.

For its time, Sydney's Grand Organ was considered by Westminster Abbey's organist as the 'finest organ ever built by an English organ builder'.

The City's first Royal visitor, HRH Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh, laid the foundation stone for Sydney Town Hall on 4 April 1868.

Four huge bronze bells play the Westminster chimes on the quarter hour and chime the number of the hour, on the hour.

The electric passenger lift in Town Hall, installed in 1906, is the oldest working lift in continuous use in Australia.

The citizens of Sydney were granted a public holiday on the day Sydney Town Hall opened on 27 November 1889.

The ceiling in Centennial Hall is made of Wunderlich pressed metal panels. In 1888, it was claimed that it could withstand the playing of the highest organ note.

There was no one single architect for Sydney Town Hall. At least eight men contributed to its final design over a period of 21 years.

The first meeting of the Municipal Council of Sydney was held in November 1842.

Vault

Sydney Town Hall’s newest meeting venue, the Vault, offers a unique experience. Once a fireproof strongroom, this refurbished space is furnished with the historic Council Chamber cedar furniture and items from the Woolcott Collection. Accommodating up to 16 people seated, with additional room for observers, this space is perfect for discerning groups who appreciate a venue with a difference – and an opportunity to discover some of the Town Hall’s hidden heritage.

New Use

To ensure that the evidence of its interesting history is not lost, this room has been refurbished to keep original detail including the rough painted brick walls and the strong room door. The Vault is furnished with an historic suite of Australian red cedar furniture created in 1883. Designed originally for the Council Chamber the suite comprises the former mayoral chair, tub chairs and upholstered benches around a large leather topped table. Made by William Coleman and Sons to a design prepared by architect John Hennessey, the Aesthetic Movement furniture is decorated with carved motifs typical of this style including sunbursts, roses, and geometric patterns. Paintings from The Woolcott Collection, presented to Council in 1905 by former town clerk, Charles Woolcott, are displayed here.

Special Privilege

The Vault is available for hire to discerning clients for special meetings on application to the Venue Manager. Visitors using the Vault must accept the conditions of hire and undertake to respect the historical integrity of the room and its contents which represent some of Council’s most significant and historically important furnishings.