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. 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.

History

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. The design by Henry Hunter was somewhat inspired by the

Palazzo Farnese Palazzo Farnese () or Farnese Palace is one of the most important High Renaissance palaces in Rome. Owned by the Italian Republic, it was given to the French government in 1936 for a period of 99 years, and currently serves as the French emb ...

in Rome. 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. These remained in use for nearly fifty years after the town hall was opened. It, along with Franklin Square, were built on the site of the former

government house Government House is the name of many of the official residences of governors-general, governors and lieutenant-governors in the Commonwealth and the remaining colonies of the British Empire. The name is also used in some other countries. Gover ...

which had been demolished upon completion of the present

. 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. The building's well-known chandeliers were installed in the Town Hall's ballroom by former Lord Mayor

Doone Kennedy Lorna Doone Pleasance Kennedy (10 May 1927 – 30 August 2014) was an Australian politician and civic leader who served as the Lord Mayor of Hobart, the capital of Tasmania, from 1986 until 1996. Kennedy was the first woman to be elected Lord ...

References

External links

Historic images of the Town Hall on the Tasmanian Electoral Commission website
{{Authority control Landmarks in Hobart Henry Hunter buildings Town halls in Tasmania Tasmanian Heritage Register Macquarie Street, Hobart