Paddington Town Hall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Paddington Town Hall |
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Paddington Town Hall
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| General information | |
| Type | Town hall |
| Architectural style | Victorian Free Classical |
| Address | 249 Oxford Street, Paddington |
| Town or city | Sydney, New South Wales |
| Country | Australia |
| Coordinates | 33°53′06″S 151°13′33″E / 33.885125°S 151.225792°E |
| Current tenants |
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| Construction started | 8 November 1890 |
| Completed | 1891 |
| Opened | 3 October 1891 |
| Renovated | August 1905 |
| Client | Municipality of Paddington |
| Owner | City of Sydney |
| Height | |
| Tip | 32-metre (105 ft) clock tower |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | John Edward Kemp |
| Main contractor | R. Steele |
| Official name: Paddington Town Hall; Town Hall | |
| Type: | State heritage (built) |
| Criteria: | a., c., d. |
| Designated: | 2 April 1999 |
| Reference #: | 561 |
| Type: | Hall Town Hall |
| Category: | Community Facilities |
The Paddington Town Hall is a historic building in Paddington, a suburb of Sydney, Australia. It's located on Oxford Street. This building used to be the town hall for the separate area of Paddington.
Sir Henry Parkes, a famous Australian politician, laid its first stone in 1890. The building was designed by John Edward Kemp and finished in 1891. It's a great example of Victorian architecture in Sydney. The tall clock tower, added in 1905, is 32 meters (about 105 feet) high. It stands out on the Oxford Street skyline. The Town Hall is also known simply as Town Hall. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on April 2, 1999, which means it's a very important historical site.
Contents
History of Paddington Town Hall
How the Area Grew
The suburb of Paddington got its name from a borough in London. It was once open fields next to Victoria Barracks, a military base. Unlike other early Sydney suburbs where people could find work nearby, people living in Paddington had to travel for their jobs.
The area started to grow after a road was built to connect to a pilot station at Watson's Bay. This road, called South Head Road, had to go through Paddington in a roundabout way. This was because a man named John Palmer wouldn't let people cross his land.
Life in Paddington really began in 1838. That's when a new military barracks was built there. By 1848, the Victoria Barracks had opened. Homes for soldiers and their families were built, giving Paddington its own identity. Builders then constructed about 3,800 houses between 1860 and 1890. These unique row houses, called terraces, still give Paddington its special look today.
One of the oldest buildings is Juniper Hall, built in 1822. It was a grand mansion with amazing views. It was built for Robert Cooper, a successful merchant. Today, it has been restored by the National Trust.
Over time, Paddington has changed a lot. Many of its original working-class residents have moved. Now, it's popular with business people who like living close to the city in a historic area. The shops on Oxford Street have also changed. They now offer cafes, special stores, and boutiques. The famous Paddington Markets, which started in the 1970s, bring many visitors. This has made Paddington a popular tourist spot in Sydney.
The Paddington Council
In September 1859, Paddington residents asked to become their own district. They gathered 172 signatures for a petition. The area they wanted included about 1,000 houses and 3,000 residents.
The first meeting of the Paddington Council was held on May 25, 1860. They met in the Paddington Inn. Their main focus was on maintaining roads and adding gas lamps. By 1867, Paddington had enough people to become a Borough, and the Chairman became a Mayor.
Paddington continued to grow and do well. By 1890, it was earning the second-highest amount of money among all Sydney councils. However, during the economic downturn of the 1890s and early 1900s, Paddington faced tough times. In 1949, the Paddington Council joined with the City of Sydney.
Building the Town Hall
The idea for the Paddington Town Hall came from C. Hellmrich, who wanted to be the Town Clerk. He helped get the land for the new building. An international competition was held to find the best design. Thirty different designs were submitted.
John Edward Kemp won the competition with his design. It was in the Italian Renaissance style. The building was supposed to cost 9,000 pounds, but it ended up costing 13,500 pounds. A loan from overseas helped pay for the construction.
The Town Hall was built on the highest point of Oxford Street. Sir Henry Parkes laid the foundation stone on November 8, 1890. The Governor of New South Wales, The Earl of Jersey, officially opened it on October 3, 1891.
The first big change to the Town Hall happened in 1904–1905. This is when the famous clock tower was added. It was built to celebrate the coronation of King Edward VII. The clock face even has "Edwardus VII" written on it. At the time, Paddington Town Hall was the second largest town hall in Sydney, after the main Sydney Town Hall.
Unlike most town halls, Paddington Town Hall was designed to make money. It rented out its supper and ballrooms for events like dances, concerts, and public ceremonies. It could seat 1,000 people, making it very important for events.
The Town Hall has also been the site of important historical moments. In 1908, the Eastern Suburbs Rugby League club, now known as the Sydney Roosters, was formed there. In 1969, Bob Hawke was elected president of the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) at the Town Hall.
The original design also included a library. In 1977, the library moved to its current location beneath the Main Hall. Today, the building houses radio studios, the Paddington Library, and is a popular place for private events. The Chauvel Cinema, which is part of the Palace Films and Cinemas chain, has been showing movies in the former ballroom since 1977.
What the Town Hall Looks Like
Outside the Building
The Paddington Town Hall has two floors. It is built of brick and covered with a smooth finish called render. Its style is called Victorian Free Classical.
The main decorations include an open row of columns facing Oxford Street. There are also rows of arched windows on the first floor. These windows are flanked by tall, flat columns called Corinthian pilasters. A decorative railing, or parapet, runs along the top.
The main entrance used to be on Oxford Street. This side of the building is more decorated. This shows its important position.
The clock tower is at the corner of Oxford Street and Oatley Road. It also has Corinthian pilasters that support the clock. Smaller columns and a triangular shape frame the clock. The tower is topped with a dome supported by an eight-sided base.
The Oatley Road side of the building is a bit different. Its windows are spaced further apart, and it doesn't have the open columns on the ground floor. A later addition at the southern end matches the original style. When the cinema was built in 1977, some windows on the first floor were blocked off.
The Famous Clock Tower
The Town Hall's clock tower is 32 meters (about 105 feet) tall. It was finished in 1905 to celebrate the coronation of King Edward VII. It really stands out in the Paddington skyline.
Most of the clock faces show normal Roman numerals. But the northern side, which faces Oxford Street, is special. Instead of numbers, it spells out "E.D.V.A.R.D.U.S. T.H.E. VII". This was a unique way to honor King Edward VII.
The clock officially started working on August 30, 1905. The Premier of New South Wales, Joseph Carruthers, started it. He hoped that there would be "peace and goodwill on earth as long as the clock continued to go."
Inside the Building
You can enter the main lobby from both Oxford Street and Oatley Road. The inside decorations match the outside, with fancy arched doorways. The ceiling is made of pressed metal, and the floor has a cool star pattern made of ceramic tiles.
The Main Hall is on the first floor. It was changed a lot in 1933–1934 and redecorated in the Art Deco style. Some of the original plasterwork was removed and replaced with open metal grilles. The walls have round plaster columns with floral tops.
Next to the hall was an open space with columns, but it has been turned into a cinema. The area in front of the hall was also changed to create the cinema foyer.
The ground floor on Oxford Street used to hold the council offices. Now, it is the Paddington Library. The entrance still looks much like it did originally.
Changes Over Time
The Paddington Town Hall has been updated several times:
- 1904: The Clock Tower was added.
- 1927: Extensions were made to the western and possibly southern parts of the building.
- 1928: The Main Hall was redecorated.
- 1933: Major renovations gave the Main Hall an Art Deco style.
- 1976: The library moved from Oatley Road to Oxford Street.
- 1977: Big renovations were done to create the cinema, video, and radio facilities.
Why It's a Heritage Site
The Paddington Town Hall is very important to the history of New South Wales. It's a great example of the Victorian Free Classical architectural style. Its location makes it easy to see, and it's a beautiful building.
The Town Hall was built in 1891, just before a big economic downturn in the 1890s. This makes it one of the last large public buildings built in this grand style. It marks the end of a time of growth and hope in New South Wales.
It also shows how important Paddington once was. The Paddington Council was the second largest in terms of income. Because of this, they built the second largest town hall in the area.
The Paddington Town Hall is also important for its beauty and design. It is a key example of Victorian Free Classical architecture. Its prominent location means it can be seen from many parts of the city and nearby suburbs.
Finally, the Town Hall is important to the local community. It serves as a hub for community activities, housing the library and other services.
Gallery
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Clock tower.
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Foundation stone of paddington town hall by Sir Henry Parkes.
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Images for kids
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Corinthian pilasters
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Clock tower
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