Leichhardt Town Hall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Leichhardt Town Hall |
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Leichhardt Town Hall, pictured in 2010
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| General information | |
| Type | Government town hall |
| Architectural style | Victorian Italianate style |
| Address | 107 Norton Street, Leichhardt, New South Wales |
| Country | Australia |
| Coordinates | 33°53′01″S 151°09′27″E / 33.8835°S 151.1574°E |
| Construction started | January 1888 |
| Completed | September 1888 |
| Client | Leichhardt Municipal Council |
| Owner | Inner West Council (current) |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Drake and Walcott |
| Main contractor | Tabrett and Draper |
| Official name | Leichhardt Town Hall |
| Type | Historic |
| Designated | 21 March 1978 |
| Part of | Leichhardt Civic Precinct |
| Reference no. | 1670 |
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Invalid designation
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| Official name | Leichhardt Town Hall |
| Type | Built |
| Criteria | a., b., c., d., f., g. |
| Designated | 23 December 2013 |
| Reference no. | Local register |
| Group collection | Community Facilities |
| Category | Hall; Town Hall |
The Leichhardt Town Hall is an important public building in Leichhardt. This suburb is part of Sydney, Australia. You can find it at 107 Norton Street. It was built in 1888. The architects, Drake and Walcott, designed it in a style called Victorian Italianate.
For many years, from 1888 to 2016, the Town Hall was the main office for the Leichhardt Municipal Council. This council was like the local government for the area. Today, it is one of the offices for the new Inner West Council. The building is also listed on important heritage lists. These lists help protect old and special buildings.
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History of Leichhardt Town Hall
When the local government for Leichhardt was created in 1871, the council members first met in an old inn. An inn is like a small hotel or pub. This building was not very good for running a town. In 1887, a newspaper called The Sydney Morning Herald said the council's meeting room was "inconvenient and insignificant." It even mentioned that the old bar shelves were still there!
Planning the New Town Hall
Because the old building was so bad, the council decided to build a new town hall. On June 13, 1887, a council member named Alderman Walsh suggested they set aside £4000 for a new building. An Alderman is a local council member. Even though some people worried about the cost, the idea was approved.
On August 15, the council chose a design by architects Drake and Walcott. Their design was in the popular Victorian Italianate style. This style was common for grand buildings at the time.
Building and Opening the Hall
The first stone of the new hall was laid on January 7, 1888. This special ceremony was led by the Mayoress, who was the wife of the Mayor, Benjamin Moore. The Mayor is the leader of the local council.
The building was finished just eight months later. It cost £5600, which was a lot of money back then! People said it was "one of the finest municipal buildings" in the area. The hall officially opened on September 26, 1888. The Governor of New South Wales, Lord Carrington, attended the opening. He was like the Queen's representative in the state. Sir Henry Parkes, a very important politician, was also there.
Later Additions and Uses
The tall clock in the tower was not put in until 1897. It was added to celebrate 60 years of Queen Victoria's rule. The Mayoress, wife of Mayor Robert Cropley, officially showed the clock to the public on June 22, 1897.
From 1888 to 1895, a bank called the Australian Joint Stock Bank operated in part of the building. After that, a public library was opened there. It had its own entrance from Marion Street.
Gallery
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Sketch of the Town Hall in the Sydney Mail, 1888
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Town Hall in 2006
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Town Hall in 2007
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Town Hall in 2008
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