The Town Hall

The Town Hall, located on St Nicholas Street, was built in 1869-70 and designed by architect W B Stewart. Originally the residence of the Woodall family, this Jacobean mansion features two storeys and an attic, constructed from red brick with stone dressings, including a plinth, string courses, cornice, and parapet. The main south front is set on a strapwork balustraded terrace that leads to the gardens. The long front includes a three-storey bay with a Dutch gable at the west end, a central three-storey Dutch gabled projection, and two square turrets with ogee lead domes at the east end. The building has dormers with semi-circular stone tympani topped with finials. Stone mullioned windows are framed in rusticated surrounds, with a two-storey mullioned canted bay at the centre projection and a large leaded oriel window spanning two storeys between the turrets at the east end. The entrance is located in the western Dutch gabled block facing the street, featuring engaged banded stone Ionic columns on pedestals, a triglyph entablature, and a scroll cartouche with flanking pyramid finials. The picturesque skyline of the building is particularly striking when viewed from the Foreshore.