Kadina Town Hall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kadina Town Hall |
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The Town Hall in 2006
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| Location | 51 Taylor Street Kadina SA 5554 |
| Built | 1880 |
| Architect | John Gaskell |
| Governing body | Copper Coast Council |
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South Australian Heritage Register
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| Type | State Heritage Place |
| Designated | 4 March 1993 |
| Reference no. | 13512 |
| Type | Historic |
| Designated | 1 November 1983 |
| Reference no. | 6770 |
The Kadina Town Hall is a very old and important building in Kadina, South Australia. It is located at 51 Taylor Street. This special building is listed on the South Australian Heritage Register. It was added to this list on March 4, 1993. It was also listed on the former Register of the National Estate on November 1, 1983. Today, the Copper Coast Council looks after the building. They use a modern part of the building for their daily work.
Contents
The Kadina Institute: How It Started
The first part of the Kadina Town Hall building opened in 1880. It was built for the Kadina Institute. The institute was a place for learning and community activities. It first opened on September 11, 1871. At that time, it was in a rented "old shed." Later, in 1878, it moved to an old shop.
Designing the First Building
The institute committee wanted a proper building. In 1877, they looked for an architect. They first chose Rowland Rees, but they did not like his plans. Instead, John Gaskell became the architect. He designed a one-story building. It was 30 feet long, 20 feet wide, and 26 feet high. The cost was £478. The first stone was laid on April 28, 1880. The building officially opened on July 28, 1880.
Growing Bigger: Extensions and Changes
The Kadina Institute building soon needed more space. In 1882, John Gaskell was asked to design an extension. This new part would be a large hall. William Hancock built this extension. It cost £2,600 to build. The Governor, William C. F. Robinson, opened the new hall in June 1863.
Becoming the Town Hall
The institute committee found it hard to pay back the loan for the extension. So, in 1889, they gave the building to the Corporate Town of Kadina. This is when it officially became the Kadina Town Hall. More changes were made in 1898. Grigg and Son added a second story. This new level had two big rooms. One was for council meetings, and the other was a library. There was also a smaller room for the mayor. Before this, one council member said the building "looked like a bond store." The balcony and a fancy gable were also added at this time.
The Clock Tower and Gallery
The famous clock tower was built in 1903. W. H. Stocker built it following T. R. Heath's design. It was made of stone and brick and stood 65 feet tall. A local businessman, Daniel Squibb, gave the town the clock. The town council borrowed money and raised rates to pay for the tower. The tower opened in July 1903. After it was finished, Mr. Squibb paid the council for the entire cost of the tower.
In 1914, a gallery was built inside the main hall. People were worried there wasn't enough seating. The council could not pay for it directly. So, local business people donated money to fund the project. Bill Milliken built the gallery starting in October 1914. It opened on December 6, 1914. A special "roll of honour" was put up on December 4, 1916. This list remembered those who joined the army in World War I.
Final Additions and Heritage Status
The hall was made even bigger in 1933. It was extended 20 feet to the north. Hedley Trenwith and Langdon Bros were the builders. This project was a joint effort between the council and the government. It was part of efforts to help people during the Great Depression. These additions in 1933 completed the historic parts of the building we see today.
