hen British colonists first established a constructed from sandstone quarried from the Wsmall settlement on the land of the banks of the River Derwent at Bridgewater and Mouheneenner people on the western shore of from the slopes of Knocklofty in West Hobart. the River Derwent in February 1804, they chose The government stipulated that the design of the small hillside above Sullivans Cove to set up the new Town Hall had to impart an appropriate their tents. These temporary canvas dwellings civic quality, and imposed a condition upon the soon gave way to buildings of brick and timber. Council that “the Municipal Body should impart The house of the colony’s first Lieutenant- to the Building a front which will befit the Street Governor, David Collins (1756-1810) was located and the character of a Town Hall.” near the alignment of Macquarie Street, near The new building comprised the main Town where parked motorcycles now straddle the Hall auditorium (originally called the Assembly centre of Elizabeth Street. Hall), the Mayor’s Court, offices of the Mayor, Government House, Hobart, 1840. TMAG AG1967 The small house gradually evolved into a Town Clerk, Accountant and Collector, strong rambling architectural pile of buildings and room, two cloakrooms, grand staircase, anteroom outhouses, spreading from Argyle Street toward and municipal chamber. The original Council the far side of the present Franklin Square. This Chamber is now the principal committee room, somewhat ramshackle vice-regal residence was renamed the Lady Osborne Room in honour of home to successive governors until the new Lady (Esma) Osborne. Lady Osborne was Lady Government House was constructed on the Mayoress of Hobart from 1959 until 1970, during Queen’s Domain in the 1850s. which time she represented the City at many The old government house was then civic receptions. Lady Osborne was a talented demolished, Elizabeth Street extended toward the pianist, and was keenly interested in women’s A site is waterfront and the newly-created block between organisations. Elizabeth and Argyle streets offered to the The Town Hall also housed the Public Library, fledgling Council as the site of a new Town Hall. with a separate entrance off Macquarie Street. Ballroom of Government House, used as a At first, the Council operated a makeshift town The library was located toward the rear of the temporary Town Hall, 1859. TAHO NS1013-1-1726 hall out of the remnant ballroom from the old Elizabeth Street wing, in the room now used as government house, which was the only structure the Council Chamber. chosen left standing on the site. The Town Hall site has been the centre of The foundation stone of the new Town Hall administration in central Hobart for more than was laid in April 1864. The building was 200 years. Front cover: Town Hall 1938, Ben Sheppard MAGNIFICENCE MUNICIPAL photograph Dennison Collection MUNICIPAL MAGNIFICENCE THE HOBART TOWN HALL 1866–2016 PETER FREEMAN Peter Freeman is an architect, historian and The completion of the Hobart Town Hall illustrator, based on the south coast of NSW, BRENDAN LENNARD & KATHRYN EVANS in 1866 marked a significant achievement who has always had close family links with for the newly established City Council. Laying the Foundation Stone, 14 April 1864. Tasmania. Peter has been the author / The building represented a proud landmark compiler / illustrator of fourteen publications in the life of the fledgling Council, housing about architectural history and conservation, the council chambers, public library, police TMAG Q2001.15.2.29 local history and biography, and was offices and courtroom together with other shortlisted in 2014 for the NSW Premier’s important municipal functions. The new History Award for his publication The edifice also provided a much needed home Wallpapered Manse. His most recent publication was an illustrated history of for broader community activities and Domain House in the Queens Domain. events. The sesquicentenary of the completion of the Town Hall provides us The first tents are erected at Sullivans Cove, Brendan Lennard is the City of Hobart’s senior with the opportunity to acknowledge the cultural heritage officer. He has a particular progress and achievements of the past one The first Government House, between interest in the musical heritage of the Town hundred and fifty years. The anniversary February 1804. SLNSW SV6B/Sull C/1 Hall and its grand concert organ. He was a also allows us to honour the contributions member of the Hobart Choral and made by so many people over the years to Macquarie Street and Sullivans Cove, 1827. Philharmonic Society in the 1970s and has attended hundreds of Town Hall concerts and our beautiful city. This publication proudly recitals over the years. documents the rich and varied history of TAHO, AF394-1-170 the Town Hall and its place in the life of Dr Kathryn Evans is a Hobart-based historian PETER FREEMAN the City of Hobart. This book celebrates with a special interest in researching and the ‘home’ of municipal government in documenting Tasmania’s historic heritage and Tasmania’s capital city and commemorates the stories connected with that heritage. She its significant role in community and has been involved in a wide range of research and interpretative projects, publications and municipal activities over the years. Elizabeth Street is extended and the Town Hall displays on significant Tasmanian historicGovernment House superimposed on the current sites and buildings. site is fenced, 1859. TAHO AUTAS001125643312w800 street layout. The ballroom is in a darker shade. Brendan Lennard plan, based on TAHO PWD266/116, Hobart Chart 6 and HCC detail plan sheets ISBN 978-0-9807102-8-1 9 780980 710281 > ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This supplement uses images and text from the new City of Hobart book, Municipal Magnificence: The Hobart Town Hall 1866-2016, courtesy of the authors, editors, illustrators and publishers. Images have been used with the permission of the relevant institutions. Text by Peter Freeman and Brendan Lennard. Supplement design by Mark Stansall. Hunter’s perspective of the proposed building. TMAG Q11287 Henry Hunter (1832-1892). The tale of TAHO PH30-1-1050 two Henrys he Hobart Town Hall is one of the oldest competition, Bastow’s design was not finally Royal Society Museum, which still stands on the has an enduring presence and an Tin Australia, but it nearly looked chosen, and his place was usurped by another corner of Argyle and Macquarie streets, and he integral architectural relationship with completely different. immigrant architect, Henry Hunter (1832-1892). was appointed to design the Town Hall in 1862. Hunter’s nearby Museum building and With the Hobart City Council spread between Bastow eventually left Tasmania to settle in Hunter’s Gothic design was seen as unsuitable with the range of other public buildings the remnants of the partly-demolished Victoria where he built a successful career in the and he was given six months to produce a new which flank Macquarie Street. government house and offices in the city market Public Works Department. His best-known plan. He eventually won over the aldermen with The Town Hall was the first major building, agitation for a new town hall began. By Tasmanian building is the former Union Chapel an Italianate design, modelled on the sixteenth undertaking by the newly-established 1860 the state government had agreed to transfer in Bathurst Street (now the Playhouse Theatre). century Renaissance Palazzo Farnese in Rome. municipal body, and its construction land to the City Council and allow it to borrow Henry Hunter had submitted a Gothic style In 1862 the Mercury noted: “Whatever represented the optimism and money to build a suitable town hall. design entry under the pseudonym Nimrod (i.e. building we may put up in this fine site will be independence of the age, a proud A design competition was held and attracted the Biblical “mighty hunter”). Despite Bastow’s the most conspicuous edifice in Hobart Town. It affirmation of civic maturity. The 10 entries. The competition was won by a young claim to the prize, Hunter’s architectural skills will remain, for centuries one of the principal building has successfully served as architect recently arrived from England, Henry were favoured by the aldermen. Hunter had ornaments or blemishes of the capital of the centre of local government Henry Bastow (1839-1920) - his “winning” design was overlooked. Bastow Family Collection Bastow (1839-1920). Despite winning the received praise for his designs for the nearby Tasmania.” administration in Hobart for Enhanced by its civic setting, the Town Hall 150 years. Henry Hunter’s 1861 competition entry in the Hunter’s first Classical design, 1863. Macquarie Street elevation of Engraving from a promotional newsletter, 1866. Nearing completion, 1866. Gothic style. TMAG R1993.3.1477 TMAG R1993.3.342 Hunter’s final design. TAHO TL.PQ 725.137 HOB HCC 1860-111 TAHO NS78-1-3 Detail of ceiling rose and chandelier Rosie Hastie Photography. The interior, c. 1880 Alfred Hunter’s decorative Detail of the cornice and Winter photograph. scheme, 1877. ceiling of the Town Hall. TMAG Q1990.15.1 TMAG R1993-3-335 HCC Nick Osborne photograph he magnificent Town Hall chandeliers were Treconstructed in 1992 to mark the 150th anniversary of Hobart becoming a city. The three original gas jet chandeliers, supplied by Osler and Co Town Hall of Birmingham, had been removed in the early twentieth century. Chandeliers The two end chandeliers were initially replaced with temporary electrical fittings in 1899 and by new interior electric pendants by 1903. In 1910 the central he elaborately decorated interior of the Hobart chandelier was creating problems for the new moving TTown Hall is not the original colour scheme picture shows, so it was also later taken down and conceived by its architect.