South Melbourne Town Hall facts for kids

South Melbourne Town Hall.

The South Melbourne Town Hall is a special old building in South Melbourne, a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It's considered very important to Victoria's history and is listed on the Victorian Heritage Register.

A Look Back: The Hall's History

This impressive building was constructed between 1879 and 1880. It was designed by a famous Melbourne architect named Charles Webb.

When it was first built, the Town Hall was home to many important services. It housed the local council, which was then called the Emerald Hill Town Council. It also had a public hall for events, a library for learning, the Post and Telegraph Department for sending messages, the Police Department and Courthouse, and even the Fire Brigade. It was a busy hub for the community!

In the 1930s, some parts of the inside were updated. New furniture was put into the council meeting room, designed by Oakley and Parkes.

The Town Hall was built on a high spot, making it stand out. It had a special curved park in front of it. The building was designed in a grand style called Victorian Academic Classical, with some French Second Empire touches. The most noticeable part is its very tall clock tower.

The building, the park, and a memorial from 1905 for the Boer War are all listed together on the Victorian Heritage Register. This means they are protected because of their historical importance.

Changes Over Time

In 1994, the cities of South Melbourne, Port Melbourne, and St Kilda joined together to form a new larger council called the City of Port Phillip. The main offices for this new council moved to the St Kilda Town Hall. The South Melbourne Town Hall kept only a few smaller offices.

That same year, the Australian government created the Australian National Academy of Music (ANAM). This academy became the main group using the building. ANAM helps talented young musicians in Australia become even better. Because of this, the Town Hall is now also a place where concerts are held.

The building got a big makeover in 2004. The state government gave money to help restore it. Workers put back the fancy roof decorations and iron cresting that had been taken off in 1945. They also restored the building's original yellow-brown color.

In 2012, Multicultural Arts Victoria moved into the South Melbourne Town Hall. This organization helps promote different cultures through art in Victoria.

In 2018, a large part of the roof inside the building collapsed. This meant parts of the building had to be closed for many months while major repairs were done. Earlier that year, the lift had also been updated because it often broke down.

Images for kids

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  South Melbourne Town Hall in 1880

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  A modern view of the Town Hall

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  The Town Hall at night