Brisbane City Hall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Brisbane City Hall |
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Brisbane City Hall
(view from King George Square) |
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| General information | |
| Architectural style | Italian Renaissance |
| Location | King George Square, Brisbane |
| Address | Adelaide Street, Brisbane City, Queensland |
| Coordinates | 27°28′08″S 153°01′25″E / 27.46885°S 153.023602°E |
| Construction started | 29 July 1920 |
| Inaugurated | 8 April 1930 |
| Renovated | 6 April 2013 |
| Cost | A£1,000,000 |
| Owner | Brisbane City Council |
| Height | 91 m |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 3 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Thomas Ramsay Hall George Gray Prentice |
| Architecture firm | Hall & Prentice |
| Structural engineer |
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| Other designers | Bruce Dellit, Peter Kaad, Emil Sodersten, Noel Wilson |
| Main contractor | Arthur Midson D.D. Carrick |
| Renovating team | |
| Architect | Megan Jones, Scott MacArthur (2010–2013) |
Brisbane City Hall is a very important building in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It is where the Brisbane City Council meets to make decisions for the city. You can find it next to King George Square, which is where its main entrance is. The building also has entrances on Ann Street and Adelaide Street.
The design of City Hall is inspired by famous buildings in Italy, like the Pantheon in Rome and St Mark's Campanile in Venice. Many people think it is one of Brisbane's most beautiful buildings. It was added to the Register of the National Estate in 1978 and the Queensland Heritage Register in 1992, meaning it's protected for its historical value. You can often hear its special Westminster chimes ringing every 15 minutes.
Over the years, Brisbane City Hall has hosted many important events. These include visits from royalty, big concerts, Christmas shows, and school graduations. In 2008, engineers found that the building had some serious problems. It closed for three years for a big repair project and reopened on April 6, 2013, looking as good as new!
Contents
History of Brisbane City Hall
Brisbane City Hall was once the tallest building in Brisbane. It was designed by a company called Hall and Prentice, along with four young architects from New South Wales.
Choosing the Best Location
People really wanted a new city hall, but they argued for many years about where to build it. Charles Moffatt Jenkinson, who was the mayor of Brisbane in 1914, helped make the final decision. He arranged for the city hall to be built at Albert Square, which is now known as King George Square.
Laying the Foundation Stones
The first foundation stone was placed on February 3, 1917, by the Governor of Queensland, Sir Hamilton J. Goold-Adams. This stone faced Albert Square. Inside the stone, a time capsule was placed. It held copies of newspapers, city documents, and coins from that time.
However, this first stone was later found to be in the wrong spot and was removed. Some people thought it was lost, but others believed it was used in the building's foundations.
The second, and current, foundation stone was laid on July 29, 1920. This ceremony was done by Edward, Prince of Wales, who later became King Edward VIII. He used a special gold and opal trowel for the event.
The building site was quite wet and swampy, so pumps were needed to keep it dry during construction. Building work started in 1920.
Opening the City Hall
Even though it wasn't fully finished, people started using the building on January 3, 1928. The mayor at the time, William Jolly, paid his electricity bill there. This was the first official transaction in the new building.
Brisbane City Hall was officially opened on April 8, 1930, by the Governor of Queensland, Sir John Goodwin.
In 1975, many of the council's offices moved to a new building called the Brisbane Administration Centre. However, the Council Chambers and the offices for the Lord Mayor and Deputy Lord Mayor stayed in City Hall.
The Grand Organ
City Hall has a huge pipe organ with 4,391 pipes. It was built in 1891 in England. The organ was first in the Brisbane Exhibition Building and then moved to City Hall in 1927. The first organ concert in City Hall was in 1929. When the building closed for repairs in 2009, the organ was carefully taken apart and stored. It was put back together when the hall reopened.
Restoration Projects
In the 1980s, work began to restore parts of the building. They opened up side entrances and brought many reception rooms back to their original look. These rooms are named after old local areas that became part of Brisbane.
Major Restoration (2010–2013)
In 2009, serious problems were found with the building. These included issues with the foundation, concrete, and old electrical wires. The Brisbane City Council decided to close City Hall for a big three-year restoration project.
This huge project involved replacing all the building's systems, fixing structural problems, and carefully preserving the original parts of the building. The grand organ was removed during this time. The Museum of Brisbane was also moved to a new, single location on the third floor.
The Brisbane City Hall officially reopened to the public on April 6, 2013. There was a special ceremony and celebrations. The renovation cost about $215 million.
Design and Architecture
Brisbane City Hall was designed in the Italian Renaissance style. This means it looks balanced and formal. It has three main floors and a partial basement. The total cost, including furniture, was around £980,000. Some chariot statues planned for the building were removed to save money.
The columns at the main entrance are in the Corinthian order style. The columns on either side are in the Ionic order style. You can see lion heads above these columns. The main entrance has a bronze awning and bronze doors.
The Clock Tower
Brisbane City Hall has a 64 metres (210 ft) tall clock tower. It rises 87.47 metres (287.0 ft) above the ground. The design is similar to the St Mark's Campanile in Venice, Italy. When it was built, the four clock faces were the largest in Australia. Each clock face is 4.8 metres (16 ft) wide. The hour hands are 1.7 metres (5 ft 7 in) long, and the minute hands are 3.0 metres (9.8 ft) long.
The clock plays Westminster Chimes every 15 minutes. You can hear them from the Queen Street Mall and sometimes even further away. A special master clock from England controls the time. The clock faces and hands were made in Brisbane. There is an observation platform at the top of the tower. You can take a lift up to see views of Brisbane.
The Auditorium
The center of City Hall has a large auditorium. It was inspired by the Pantheon, Rome. This circular hall can hold up to 1,600 people. It is covered by the largest copper dome in the southern hemisphere. Underneath this dome, there are 8,500 LED lights that create light shows.
When City Hall was first built, it was meant to hold most of the council's offices, the Council Chamber, a public library, and several reception rooms. As the city grew, some of these rooms were changed into office spaces.
Building Materials
The building is made of concrete, brick, and steel. The base is made of granite from a quarry near Camp Mountain. The upper parts of the building are covered in Helidon freestone, which is a type of sandstone from Helidon. The clock tower also has a steel frame and is covered in the same sandstone. Inside, there are four marble columns and granite floors.
Sculptures and Artworks
Tympanum Sculpture
Above the main entrance, there is a large carved sculpture called a tympanum. It was created by Brisbane artist Daphne Mayo. The sculpture shows the early settlement of Queensland. In the center, a female figure represents "progress" or "knowledge." On one side, settlers with their animals move forward. On the other side, Indigenous people and native animals are shown. The sculpture was unveiled in 1930.
Over the years, this sculpture has caused some discussion. The artist herself said it showed the idea of white colonial civilization being superior. Despite calls for changes, the Brisbane City Council has stated that the sculptures cannot be removed or changed because of their heritage listing.
King George V and Lions
In front of City Hall, there is a bronze statue of King George V and two bronze lion sculptures. These were part of a memorial unveiled in 1938. The lions are similar to the famous bronze lions in Trafalgar Square in London.
The King George V statue originally faced City Hall. However, in 1975, Queen Elizabeth II visited and joked about her "grandpapa retreating." After that, the statue was turned around to face the square. In 2007, the statues were removed for renovations to King George Square. They were put back in the newly designed square in 2009.
The Petrie Family Sculpture
There is also a bronze artwork called the Petrie Tableau. It tells the story of the pioneering Petrie family, including John Petrie, Brisbane's first mayor. This sculpture complements the King George V memorial.
King George Square
Brisbane City Hall faces King George Square, which is named after King George V. This area was once smaller and called Albert Square. In the late 1960s, the square was made much larger. This change meant that the original grand stone stairs in front of City Hall were removed.
King George Square is a popular place for public gatherings, rallies, and protest marches. It has also been redeveloped as part of the Inner-Northern Busway project.
Forme del Mito
A collection of large bronze sculptures called Forme del Mito used to be in King George Square. These artworks by Italian artist Arnaldo Pomodoro were displayed at Brisbane's Expo '88. In 2007, they were moved for renovations. They are now located at the bottom of Jacob's Ladder.
Recent Developments (2008/2009)
King George Square was redeveloped in 2008 and 2009. It now has a new public plaza, restaurants, gift shops, and a stage. This work was finished in October 2009, just in time for Brisbane's 150th anniversary as the capital of Queensland.
The square is also home to the underground King George Square busway station. This station connects the Queen Street bus station to the Roma Street Station and the northern suburbs.
Current Uses of City Hall
After the big renovation from 2010 to 2013, City Hall is mainly used for public events and gatherings. For many decades, it was the main place in Brisbane for classical concerts and art events. Many famous singers performed there.
The reception rooms that were once offices have been restored to their original look. A modern kitchen in the basement helps cater for events. You can contact EPICURE, who manages City Hall, to host functions, concerts, or events.
The Museum of Brisbane is now in a special facility on the rooftop. Besides changing exhibitions, the museum also offers tours of the building and the clock tower.
There are two cafes inside City Hall. One is the Red Cross Cafe. The other is the Shingle Inn, a famous cafe that was moved and rebuilt inside City Hall after its original location was demolished.
The only administrative offices still in City Hall are the Council Chambers and the offices for the Lord Mayor and Deputy Lord Mayor.
Awards and Recognition
In 2009, Brisbane City Hall was named one of the Q150 Icons of Queensland. This award recognized its importance as a "structure and engineering feat" during the state's 150th anniversary celebrations.
