Adelaide Town Hall facts for kids
The Adelaide Town Hall is a very important building in Adelaide, South Australia, Australia. You can find it on King William Street. This building is where the Adelaide City Council meets. It's also a popular place for concerts and other events.
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History of Adelaide Town Hall
The Adelaide Town Hall was designed by two architects, Edmund Wright and E. J. Woods. Building started in 1863 and finished in 1866. The tall tower on the building is called the Albert Tower. It was named after Prince Albert. A famous old photo from 1865, called the "Duryea Panorama," was taken from this tower.
The clock in the tower was put in much later, in 1935. It was a gift from Lavington Bonython.
A Place for Important Meetings
The Adelaide Town Hall has been a part of many important moments in history. On August 1, 1895, a big meeting happened here. It was the first meeting of the Australasian Federation League of South Australia. This group was very important because they worked to unite the different Australian colonies into one country, which we now call the Federation. Many people attended this meeting, including a large number of women.
The Beatles' Visit
One of the most famous events at the Town Hall happened in 1964. The famous music band, The Beatles, appeared on the balcony! About 300,000 fans came to see them. This was one of their biggest crowds ever.
Today, the Town Hall is still used by the Adelaide City Council. It's also a main place for concerts, especially for the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra. People often say the hall has great sound for music. The Adelaide Town Hall is listed on the Register of the National Estate, which means it's a special and protected building.
The Pipe Organ
After the Town Hall opened in 1866, people wanted a large pipe organ for the main hall. Local musicians held concerts to raise money for it. In 1875, the Council ordered an organ from a company in London called William Hill & Son. It cost a lot of money, over £2,100!
The organ was first used in a concert on October 2, 1877. Later, in 1885, more parts were added to make the organ even bigger and better. In 1923, an electric motor was installed to power the organ instead of an older hydraulic system.
However, over time, the original organ became very old. People felt it was out of date and needed to be replaced. So, in 1989, a brand new pipe organ was installed. It was made by J.W. Walker and Sons in England.
For many years, there was a special job called the City Organist. This person was in charge of playing the organ at the Town Hall. Many different people held this position over the years, starting in 1879.
See also
In Spanish: Ayuntamiento de Adelaide para niños
