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Sydney Town Hall

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Securing a site for a Town Hall, Sydney

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From very early in its existence, the Council began trying to solicit a land grant from the Colonial Government for a Town Hall.

It received in principle support from the Governor for a land grant at the Old Burial Ground bounded by George, Kent and Druitt Streets and next to St Andrews Cathedral. A design competition was held in 1843.

The Governor began to have doubts about use of the site. Others were vying for the land for different uses, the Council's grand plans were at odds with a more modest building proposed by the Colonial Government, removing the remains were not popular with the public, and there were doubts if was even legal for the Governor to grant the land given its public and sacred use.

By 1848 the Colonial Government was advocating for land on a site bounded by Bridge, Phillip, Bent and Elizabeth Streets. The Council accepted and a grant was given in 1851. The grant lapsed and a further grant was allocated in 1857 for the same site.

By this time Council was clearly unhappy with the site at Bridge Street which did not meet its needs. Under the Town Hall Site Exchange Act 1862 Council was given the power to sell or swap the land in Bridge Street and they sold it.

The search for a site continued and various locations were proposed. The Council strongly lobbied for the Police Office (on part of the site where the Queen Victoria Building now stands) but the Colonial Government was strongly opposed. FInally in 1864 they offered the Council the Old Burial Ground site once more.

Another competition was held in 1868 for a design. The design known as 'City' by JH Wilson was considered to be the one that could be adapted for a Town Hall. It was significantly modified by a number of architects.

Prince Alfred laid the foundation stone for the Town Hall in April 1868. The Cathedral Close Act of 1869 gave the Colonial Government the power to transfer half and acre of land from the Old Burial Ground to the City.

CollectionSydney Town Hall

Item

Letter - Request to the Governor for larger land grant for the Town Hall, 1850

Letter - Resolved to accept land with frontage to Bridge Street as a site for the Town Hall , 1849

Letter - Request for grant of Hyde Park Barracks as a Town Hall for the city, 1848

Letter - Request to Governor for grant for site to erect Town Hall, 1846

Letter - Notification of prizes awarded for new Town Hall design, 1843

Letter - Notification to Frederick Hilly that he won prize for new Town Hall design, 1843

Letter - Return of plans and specification for Town Hall by Shields, 1843

Letter - Acknowledgement of Governor's response regarding request for grants of land, 1843

Petition - Suggestion for site of the proposed Town Hall, Haymarket, 1869

Memorandum - Withdrawal of submission of plans and specifications for Town Hall, 1843

Memorandum - Plans for subdividing and selling land in Bridge Street Sydney, 1863

Letter - Draft of the grant of the part of the Cathedral Close for Town Hall, 1869

Memorandum - Information for the erection of a Town Hall on the Cathedral Close site, 1869

Letter - James Barnet resigning his office as draftsman for new Town Hall, 1859

Memorandum - Potential sites for Town Hall with site sketch, 1858

Information file - Town Hall - History - Burial Ground/Site for Town Hall. Journal of Australasian

Crown Grant for site for Town Hall, Bridge and Phillip Streets Sydney, 1851

Vade Mecum 1941

Letter - Alteration to the site granted to Council to build a Town Hall, 1858

Letter - Application for Issue to the Municipal Council of a grant, Bridge Street Sydney, 1857

Letter - Delay in preparation of deed of grant for Town Hall, Bridge Street Sydney, 1851

Letter - Acknowledging acceptance of land grant at Bridge Street Sydney for a Town Hall, 1849

Letter - Denial of application for grant at Hyde Park Barracks for Sydney Town Hall, 1848

Civic Collection

Architectural drawing - City - design for Sydney Town Hall by JH Willson, 1868

Photograph - George Street, looking north, by John Rae, 1842

Photograph

Sketch of architect JH Willson's selected design of the Town Hall, George Street Sydney, 1883

Map

City of Sydney - Detail Plans, 1855: Sheet 26

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Securing a site for a Town Hall, Sydney