Wellington Town Hall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Wellington Town Hall |
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Te Whare Whakarauika (Māori)
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The Town Hall from Civic Square
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| General information | |
| Type | Town hall, concert hall |
| Architectural style | Neo-Renaissance |
| Location | Corner of Wakefield Street and Civic Square, Wellington |
| Coordinates | 41°17′21″S 174°46′38″E / 41.2893°S 174.7773°E |
| Current tenants | Wellington City Council |
| Construction started | 1901 |
| Completed | 1904 |
| Owner | Wellington City |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Joshua Charlesworth |
| Main contractor | Paterson, Martin and Hunter |
| Designated: | 11 December 2003 |
| Reference #: | 3275 |
The Wellington Town Hall (also known as Māori: Te Whare Whakarauika in Māori) is a famous building in Wellington, New Zealand. It's a concert hall and part of the city's main government buildings. This important building first opened its doors in December 1904.
Since the 2013 Seddon earthquake, the Town Hall has been closed to visitors. It is currently being made much stronger to protect it from future earthquakes.
Contents
History of the Town Hall
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Work on the Wellington Town Hall began in 1902. The first stone was laid in 1901. The building was officially opened on 7 December 1904.
The Town Hall originally had a grand entrance on the Cuba Street side. It featured a Roman-style portico, which is a porch with columns. There was also a tall, 150-foot clock tower. A clock was added to the tower in 1922. It was a gift from John Blundell, who owned The Evening Post newspaper.
Changes After Earthquakes
In 1934, the clock tower was removed. This was done as a safety step after the big 1931 Hawke's Bay earthquake. Other parts of the building's front were also taken down. These included the pediment (a triangular part above the entrance), the balustrade (a row of small columns), the parapet (a low wall on the roof), and the bold cornice (a decorative molding).
The building was made stronger in 1943. This happened after another earthquake the year before. During this work, the fancy Corinthian capitals (the tops of the columns) on the outside were changed. They were replaced with simpler Tuscan designs.
Over the years, the Town Hall sometimes needed more care. In 1973, during a concert, the stage ceiling partly collapsed. This showed that the building needed more attention. Soon after, people in Wellington started asking for a better concert place.
In 1980, the Michael Fowler Centre was built. It was placed right in front of the Town Hall. At first, there were plans to pull down the old Town Hall. But the New Zealand Historic Places Trust (now called Heritage New Zealand) convinced the city to keep it.
In 1989, plans were made to create Civic Square. This new public space would be between the Town Hall and the old city library. As part of this plan, the Town Hall was fully updated in 1991–1992. During this work, the smaller concert room was removed. It was replaced with new reception rooms for events.
Acoustics and Events
The main concert hall inside the Town Hall is known for its amazing sound quality. Many people say it's one of the best in the world. It has hosted many live shows, including famous bands like The Beatles and The Rolling Stones.
The Town Hall has also been used for many other events. These include fashion shows, special balls for young people, and political meetings. It has also been a place for university graduations. In 1995, it even hosted a special church ceremony.
Even though the city council offices have grown since 1904, the Town Hall was still important. Until it closed for earthquake strengthening, it held the offices of the Mayor and the Wellington City Council members.
Earthquake Strengthening Work
In 2014, the work to strengthen the Town Hall was paused. This was because the cost went up a lot. It changed from $43 million to $60 million due to unexpected problems.
In March 2017, the Wellington City Council announced new plans. They decided to make the Town Hall 100% safe according to New Zealand building rules. This was expected to cost $85 million. Construction was planned to start in 2018. The goal was to open the building again in 2021.
As the repair work began, more complex issues were found. The costs kept increasing. In February 2019, the council increased the budget to $112 million. This extra work will include seismic base isolation. This is a special system that helps a building move safely during an earthquake. It will help protect the building for a very long time. This extra work also means the opening will be delayed. The Town Hall is now expected to reopen in 2023.
See also
In Spanish: Palacio consistorial de Wellington para niños
