St Kilda Town Hall
Encyclopedia
City hall
In local government, a city hall, town hall or a municipal building or civic centre, is the chief administrative building of a city...
in St Kilda, Victoria
St Kilda, Victoria
St Kilda is an inner city suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 6 km south from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Port Phillip...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
Architecture
The design by local architect William PittWilliam Pitt (architect)
William Pitt born in Melbourne was an architect, public servant and politician working in Victoria, Australia in the later part of the 19th century and early 20th century....
in the Classical Revival
Neoclassical architecture
Neoclassical architecture was an architectural style produced by the neoclassical movement that began in the mid-18th century, manifested both in its details as a reaction against the Rococo style of naturalistic ornament, and in its architectural formulas as an outgrowth of some classicizing...
style. It was built in 1890. Pitt's grand vision for the town hall was never completed. When funds dried out, the plans which included an ornate free classical tower details, similar in design to the South Melbourne Town Hall
South Melbourne Town Hall
South Melbourne Town Hall is a civic building located at Bank Place in South Melbourne, a suburb of Melbourne, Australia. It is of state heritage significance to Victoria being listed on the Victorian Heritage Register .-Architecture:...
were not realised.
In 1925 the large classical portico
Portico
A portico is a porch leading to the entrance of a building, or extended as a colonnade, with a roof structure over a walkway, supported by columns or enclosed by walls...
, not part of Pitt's original design, was added, and the building's facade's stone finish was stuccoed over and painted white. To coincide with St Kilda's new status as a city, the building was renamed City Hall.
In the early hours of Sunday 7 April, 1991, fire gutted the St Kilda Town Hall resulting in lost art works and a large repair bill. Arson was suspected. The building had redevelopment 'Annexe' works completed to the rear of it in February 2008.
The City Hall sits in 19th century gardens which form circular driveway and entrance to the grand staircase. The gardens were once used as recreational park space, however currently they are isolated from pedestrians by the busy Brighton Road and Carlisle street intersection.
Functions
For the 1956 Summer Olympics1956 Summer Olympics
The 1956 Melbourne Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVI Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was held in Melbourne, Australia, in 1956, with the exception of the equestrian events, which could not be held in Australia due to quarantine regulations...
, the building hosted the fencing
Fencing at the 1956 Summer Olympics
At the 1956 Summer Olympics, seven fencing events were contested, six for men and one for women.-Medal summary:-Medal table:-Participating nations:A total of 165 fencers from 23 nations competed at the Melbourne Games:...
events.
After the amalgamation of the City of St Kilda
St Kilda, Victoria
St Kilda is an inner city suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 6 km south from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Port Phillip...
with the City of Port Melbourne
Port Melbourne, Victoria
Port Melbourne is a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 5 km southwest of Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government areas are the cities of Port Phillip and Melbourne. At the 2006 Census, Port Melbourne had a population of 13,293....
and the City of South Melbourne
South Melbourne, Victoria
South Melbourne is an inner city suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 2 km south from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area are the Cities of Port Phillip and Melbourne...
in 1994 to form the new City of Port Phillip
City of Port Phillip
The City of Port Phillip is a Local Government Area in Victoria, Australia. It is located on the northern shores of Port Phillip, south of Melbourne's central business district. It has an area of 20.62 km² and has an estimated population of 96,110 people....
, the Town Hall now functions as secondary offices for the new Port Phillip City Council. The majority of Port Phillip staff work in the new 'Annexe'
See also
- List of Town Halls in Melbourne
- City of Port PhillipCity of Port PhillipThe City of Port Phillip is a Local Government Area in Victoria, Australia. It is located on the northern shores of Port Phillip, south of Melbourne's central business district. It has an area of 20.62 km² and has an estimated population of 96,110 people....
- List of Mayors of Yarra