Sydney Town Hall
Sydney Town Hall is a grand historic heritage building serving the same function today as when it first opened
The historic Sydney Town Hall has served as the working centre of civic government in Sydney ever since it's completion in the late 1800s. In addition to council chambers and civic offices it also has venues that are used for a wide range of events and exhibitions throughout the year. In fact it was Sydney's largest indoor entertainment venue until the Sydney Opera House opened in 1973.
After the incorporation of Sydney in 1842 the need for a civic town hall became evident. Sydney's aldermen were determined to make Sydney's Town Hall a grand building and were prepared to invest accordingly. The site that was selected was previously a burial ground that had fallen into disrepair. In 1868 a design competition was awarded to architect J.H. Wilson.
Construction of the Town Hall took place in two stages over a period of 21 years between 1868 and 1889 interspersed with more than its fair share of complications and scandals. The main building material was sandstone quarried from nearby Pyrmont. The design appears to be strongly influenced by French Architecture from the 2nd Empire. The exterior of the Hall is dominated by it's impressive clock tower.
One of the most notable features of Sydney Town Hall is its Grand Organ located at the end of the elegant Centennial Hall. No expense was spared in it's creation. Constructed in England in between 1886 and 1889, it was subsequently dismantled and carefully packed into 94 crates for shipping to Sydney Town Hall where it was carefully unpacked and reassembled. With 9000 pipes, it was the world's largest ,and possibly the best organ ever built when it was completed. Eventually time took its toll and the organ underwent a painstaking restoration that took over 11 years to complete finishing in 1982. Today the Grand Organ receives rigorous maintenance and it is regularly played for concerts and recitals throughout the year.
You can see the exterior of the Town Hall at any time of day or night, however access to the interior is limited to normal business hours unless attending an event. Tours are conducted by Friends of Town Hall for a small donation.
Nearby attractions: Queen Victoria Building, Sydney Tower, Pitt Street Mall, Darling Harbour and Hyde Park
Facts For Your Visit
Fee: No. Guided tours by donation are available after pipe organ concerts. Some events have admission fess.Sydney Town Hall Hours:
Opening hours may differ on holidays
- Monday: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Tuesday: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Wednesday: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Thursday: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Friday: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Saturday: Closed
- Sunday: Closed
Address: 483 George St, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia
Phone: (02) 9265 9333
Official Website: Sydney Town Hall
Sydney Town Hall Reviews
Rated out of 5
Good heritage building. Get decorated for Christmas with a lighted tree and colorful lighting for building. The square in front of it has a team station and promenade with many shopping mall. It has many benches for people to relax. It is a popular place streaming with tourists and youngsters
Pillappan K - 3 months ago
The Town Hall was perfect for a Sydney festival show “ Mama Loves Derby “. The staff were helpful and very pleasant and it’s a stunning venue. Amenities were great too! Highly recommend to see a show there and if there are tickets available go see Mama Loves Derby
Kellee Wilson - a month ago
Sydney Town Hall is an impressive historic building with beautiful architecture. perfect for sightseeing. The area can get quite crowded, which makes taking photos a bit tricky, but it’s still worth a visit. There’s also a tram station nearby, making it a convenient spot to explore.
Punnatorn Vechaputi - 4 months ago
Sydney Town Hall is an impressive historic building with beautiful architecture. You can take a lots of photos of the hall and Jacarandas. Also you can see a lot of pigeons which are not afraid of humans. At night, you can see the hall is lit up.
Xi - 3 months ago
Went there for the organ concert at Sydney Town Hall. The Grand Organ sounded great, with the music carrying clearly throughout the Centennial Hall. It’s a beautiful venue, and the performance offered a nice, resonant sound experience. Definitely a worthwhile visit.
Donna W - 3 months ago
Directions
| Train Line | Nearest Station | Walking Time |
|---|---|---|
| L2, T1, T2, T3 or T4 | Town Hall | 0 minutes |
How to get to Sydney Town Hall by Train
By Train or Light Rail L2: Exit at Town Hall Station and you are there.
Map & Instant Route Finder
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Photo Gallery
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Interior of Centennial Hall inside the Sydney Town Hall with the Grand Organ along the far wal -
The renowned Grand Organ inside the Sydney Town Hall cc licensed photo by Newtown grafitti -
Sydney Town Hall at Christmas cc licensed photo by sv1ambo -
Photo Credit: Bernard Spragg - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Sydney Heritage - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: mikecogh - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: mikecogh - cc license via Flickr
