Standing tall and overlooking the crowds of Brisbane for almost 100 years is City Hall – one of Queensland’s most significant heritage and cultural icons.
A testament to the city’s rich history and architectural grandeur, City Hall truly is the beating heart of Brisbane. Over the decades, it’s served as the central hub for civic, community, artistic, and social events – earning the affectionate title of the ‘People’s Place’. From royal receptions to orchestral concerts and political meetings, City Hall has seen it all, and has even welcomed distinguished guests including The Rolling Stones and Queen Elizabeth II. Following a three-year restoration in 2013 to reinstate the icon to its former glory, City Hall continues its role as a cherished landmark in Brisbane’s cultural landscape.
FIRSTS
• The first foundation stone was laid in 1917 by the then Governor, Sir Hamilton Gould-Adams.
• The City Hall offices opened for business on 3 January 1928.
• It was the first major Australian concrete ‘column and beam’ building constructed.
• City Hall officially opened to the public on 8 April 1930.
MAIN AUDITORIUM
Originally known as ‘Concert Hall’, City Hall’s Main Auditorium was so vast that early performers dubbed it the ‘two acre paddock’. Its circular design with fluted pilasters around the perimeter is based on the Pantheon of Rome. A decorative frieze by artist Daphne Mayo runs above the stage, featuring a classically-inspired motif of nymphs playing trumpets and cymbals. The Brisbane City Hall Organ was built in 1892 by Henry Willis and Sons of London for the Queensland National Agricultural and Industrial Association (QNA) at Bowen Hills. In 1897, the QNA was declared bankrupt and several musicians came together to rescue the organ from the auctioneer’s hammer – raising funds for the Brisbane Municipal Council to purchase the organ.
CLOCK TOWER
An important landmark and timekeeper for the city, the City Hall clock tower stands at 92 metres high and was the tallest structure in Brisbane until the 1960s. Every year, thousands of visitors ascend in the historic cage lift to the top of the clock tower. “Once at the summit, visitors are treated to panoramic views of the city, while also being able to explore the clock mechanism and the iconic bell.”
MUSEUM OF BRISBANE
Housed in a purpose-built gallery on Level 3 of City Hall, Brisbane’s leading history and art museum brings the city’s vibrant culture to life, offering a year-round program of free exhibitions, workshops and events.
WORLD WAR II SIGNATURE WALL
Over 150 signatures from WWII veterans were uncovered in October 2008, as Brisbane City Council restored the basement of City Hall. Soldiers scrawled everything from their names to service numbers, and amusing mottos on the wall, which at the time sat above the men’s urinal. The wall is now part of the overall City Hall heritage listing.
ARCHAEOLOGICAL DISCOVERIES
In 2010, workers on the City Hall restoration uncovered an important archaeological discovery that dated back over a century – before the building even existed! As workers excavated below the Main Auditorium to make way for the building’s first kitchen, they found remnants of a cobblestone drain and old streetscape three metres into the dig which has been dated back to the late 1880s, when the site was converted from swamp lands into Council property. Experts believe the drain was incorporated into paths and driveways to allow movement of stock onto the site as well as storing tools and equipment for the construction and maintenance of the city’s infrastructure, including storage of paving stones and kerbing used for Brisbane’s early streets.
A MOMENT IN TIME
A time capsule containing photos and messages from 2012 was placed inside the wall of the Main Auditorium on 2 April 2013. It will be re opened in 2059 to coincide with the 200-year anniversary of the declaration of the municipality of Brisbane.
CLOCK TOWER TOURS
Want to take a look for yourself? Free guided tours are available inside City Hall, and visitors can also take part in the popular Clock Tower Tours. Bookings are essential.
