Sydney Town Hall
Town Hall upgrade
Sydney Town Hall is being restored and protected for future generations.
The first stage of works included a complete internal refurbishment which brought Sydney Town Hall into the modern era and enhanced its sustainability while retaining its historic charm and respecting its heritage significance. Due to the scale of work, this first stage cost $40 million and saw the historic building closed to the public for two years, and reopen in March 2010.
In early 2012, the City started the next phase of the upgrade, which will cost approximately $9 million, and involve external repairs to the clock tower including replacing 26 cubic metres of stone. The building will remain open to the public over this time.
The photographic hoarding covers up scaffolding and ensures the building's sandstone façade continues to preside over George Street during the 20-month conservation project.
Current works
Improvement works involve restoring the building’s exterior and include:
- Restoring and cleaning the sandstone façade, which has faced almost 150 years of exposure to weather and pollution
- Designing and installing new external lighting, which will use approximately 50 per cent less power
- Restoring the clock and clock tower and installing seismic bracing for protection against potential earthquake activity
- A survey of the Vestibule dome followed by appropriate conservation
- Repairing the flagpole
- Improving internal joinery and fire services
Sydney Town Hall’s grand organ, 1 of the largest in the world with more than 8,700 pipes, is also being cleaned, tuned and restored over a 2 year period.
Work on the clock tower restoration will take about 18 months. After that, intricate repair works to the building’s remaining façades will be undertaken in stages over four years, starting at the building’s north eastern corner (corner Druitt Street and George Street), moving to the western end and then to the south.
Sustainability
The City has seized this opportunity to green the Town Hall by improving its energy efficiency. More than 1700 new, energy efficient lights were fitted. A new computer system controls smart sensors that switch lights off in unused areas.
The sustainable lighting and smart sensors mean the building will use 30 per cent less energy than previously. New hydraulics and storm water infrastructure throughout the building will help reduce water use by 15 to 20 per cent.
On the northern roof of the Town Hall, 240 solar panels – which can supply 48 kilowatts of power – were installed. New roof insulation will help retain heat in winter and keep the building cool in hot weather.
Contacts
Geoff Brew
Specialist Project Manager
02 9265 9291gbrew@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au
Links
Sydney Town HallNSW Heritage OfficeLast updated: Friday, 24 May 2013