Port Augusta Town Hall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Port Augusta Town Hall |
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The Town Hall in 2017
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| Location | 54 Commercial Road Port Augusta SA 5700 |
| Built | 1886-87 |
| Architect | Alfred Barham Black and H. E. Hughes |
| Governing body | City of Port Augusta |
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South Australian Heritage Register
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| Type | State Heritage Place |
| Designated | 23 September 1982 |
| Reference no. | 16265 |
| Type | Historic |
| Designated | 21 March 1978 |
| Reference no. | 6917 |
The Port Augusta Town Hall is an old building in Port Augusta, South Australia. It used to be the main office for the local government. This building is very important because of its history and design. It is protected as a "heritage-listed" site. This means it's a special place that needs to be preserved. It was added to the South Australian Heritage Register in 1982.
Building the Town Hall
The Port Augusta Town Hall was built a long time ago, between 1886 and 1887. Two architects, Alfred Barham Black and H. E. Hughes, designed it. Their plan included a big main hall with a stage. This hall was about 23 meters long and 14 meters wide.
A builder named R. Honey constructed the building. He used strong stone that came from a place called Quorn. The first stone was laid in June 1886 by the mayor's wife, Mrs. J. C. Knipe. The Town Hall officially opened in May 1887. The mayor at that time, David Drysdale, opened the building.
Fire and Rebuilding
In 1944, a big fire badly damaged the Town Hall. Many parts of the building were destroyed. This included the main hall, the stage, and rooms for the mayor and other groups. Luckily, the front part of the building, called the facade, was saved. The council office and council meeting room also survived the fire.
While waiting to be rebuilt, the building was used for outdoor shows. But in 1945, a wall collapsed. This caused more damage. The Town Hall was finally rebuilt in 1946. This cost a lot of money, about £30,000. The Governor, Willoughby Norrie, opened the newly rebuilt hall in August 1946. The original front facade was kept and used in the new building.
Later Years and Future
In 1983, the City of Port Augusta council moved out of the Town Hall. They moved into a new building called the Port Augusta Civic Centre. After that, different community groups used the old Town Hall for many years. However, much of the building was not used and slowly became run down. In 2007, a teenager was hurt after falling through the roof.
In 2015, the government decided to sell the building. It was reported that the building had some big problems. These included issues with asbestos and large cracks in the walls. The building's side walls were sinking, and the front was crumbling. A verandah had to be put up to keep people safe.
A local politician, Dan van Holst Pellekaan, suggested removing the heritage listing from most of the building. He wanted only the front facade to remain protected. This would allow for a bigger redevelopment of the area. In 2016, a contract to sell the building was signed. The new owners, Gulf Group, started renovating parts of the building. As of 2019, the Port Augusta Boxing Club has moved back into a renovated space there.
