Final restorations underway for Sydney Town Hall

The final stages of a historic conservation project on Sydney Town Hall are underway with the two-year project to include the building façade being polished, repaired and replaced with local Sydney sandstone and conservation work commencing on the building’s stained glass windows.

Scaffolding and printed screen wraps will conceal the southern and western façades of Town Hall as the final stage of a once-in-a-lifetime conservation project gets underway.

Sydney Town Hall is one of the finest examples of high Victorian, French second empire style architecture in Australia.

The City of Sydney began extensive conservation works to the 140-year-old building in 2012, starting with the clock tower and the eastern and northern facades.

Stonemasons carved and lifted sandstone blocks weighing up to two tonnes and crafted intricate designs to sit atop the columns of the 55metre tall clock tower.

The 2.5-metre-diameter Town Hall clock – purchased in 1884 from “reliable” British clockmakers Gillett, Bland & Co. – has stood the test of time. The clock’s mechanism has been wound by hand for more than 120 years and has now been fully restored.

The Grand Organ’s pipes – nearly 9,000 of them – were each delicately removed, hand-cleaned and measured as part of its massive refurbishment. The work was completed by specialists, from organ building firm, Peter D.G. Jewkes, and accredited organ specialist Dr Kelvin Hastie, an expert in working with 19th and early 20th century organs.

The upcoming restoration works will use yellow block sandstone sourced locally from excavated construction sites in the city centre like 200 George Street.

Lord Mayor Clover Moore notes “Sydney Town Hall is a landmark that has not only served our city as a civic centre, but also a meeting place and stage for many public events.

“It is the largest and most ornate late 19th century civic building in Australia. This project will preserve the exceptional heritage features of this building so that it will be enjoyed for future generations to come.

“This project will also create positions for apprentices, creating jobs and skilling up the next generation of stonemasons who will continue to protect our important buildings.

“The construction work will not restrict access to Town Hall when it re-opens to the public as Covid-19 restrictions ease.”

City Historian Dr Lisa Murray said it is critical for conservation works to be undertaken on outstanding heritage buildings like Sydney Town Hall to ensure the City’s history is protected and preserved.

Dr Murray advises “the building’s exterior and interiors exhibit the highest level of craftsmanship and quality materials, showcasing the artistic talents of Sydney’s past architects, builders, artisans and decorators.

“This is a splendid and exuberant civic building that we are fortunate to have retained in the city.

“The building was originally designed by J H Willson in 1868 and it was built in two main stages, overseen by a series of architects. When completed in 1889, it was the colony’s most daring, technological, and innovative building and it dominated Sydney’s skyline.

“The building is special for its continuing use as the offices of the Council of the City of Sydney and as the city’s civic and cultural centre. The hall is built on former site of Sydney’s first official European cemetery.

“There are so many layers of people, decoration, occasion and celebration connected with this site that together tell the unique history of the City of Sydney.”

Images courtesy of City of Sydney