|
Originally the Shire of Swan Hill had its headquarters at Kerang as part of the Roads Board, but on 30th May, 1893, this area became the Shire of Castle Donnington, (as at that time Kerang would not relinquish the Swan Hill name), but on 30th May, 1904 it was finally proclaimed the Shire of Swan Hill… At Swan Hill.
In 1897 the 4,400 sq mile shire opened its own Shire Hall and Council Chambers at the southeast corner of McCallum and Beveridge Streets, with the foundation laid by Cr John Gray (later MLA) and who was foremost in the movement to create the Shire and became its first president. A plush ball followed the official opening. This building with its handsome external appearance remained a serviceable undertaking until the demand for a larger building necessitated its demolition around 1934 and the construction of the present Town Hall in the following years.
The years 1926-1934 saw great strides in the development of the town: it had electricity (with the electrical plant in the Power House in Beveridge Street being made operational on the 11th September, 1912, and continuing there until 1922), sewerage, and a modern swimming pool and chlorinated water supply. Although the size of the Shire had decreased to 3,114sq miles, the valuation (net annual value) had gone from £26,294 to £228,310, with the population of the Shire of Swan Hill going from 1,800 to 4,500. Due to this development Council proposed a new hall to seat 1300 people, with a supper room that would accommodate some 250 people.  | |
In 1928 a committee of the council looked into the question of renovating the original Council Chambers and buildings, and came to the conclusion that it was impracticable. It was then decided to have plans and specifications for a new hall drawn up and an architect, Mr. A. C Leith, of Melbourne, was appointed to furnish a report to the Council. Alternatives offered were 1) Renovating the old building 2) Erecting a new building at the old power house site in Beveridge Street 3) Erecting a new building on the present site. The last plan was adopted, the cost to be £23,000.
Tenders ware called for and ranged from £23,000 to £31,000. These exceeded the estimate and left nothing for furnishing, so the whole project was left in abeyance until September 1934, when it was again referred to Mr. Leith, with modified plans. This decision was due to repeated complaints from public bodies concerning lack of sufficient accommodation, promotive kitchen, out buildings and lack of supper room, worn out condition of floors, and dilapidated condition of stage and furnishings.
A loan of £22,000 at 4% was arranged, tenders were again called for and Mr. Gay's tender of £21,265 was accepted and work began. Swan Hill bricks were used almost exclusively in the building.
The foundation stone was laid by Mr. E.G. Gray, the son of John Gray who had laid the stone for the old hall 37 years before. The placement of the stone was as the established custom of laying it in the northeast part of the intended structure.
Mr. Gray asked the Architect “Is this Foundation set level, plumb in its true position, and is it of such faithful character and substance that it will safely support and sustain the load designed to be superimposed upon it?” On receiving reply that it was, Mr. Gray then said “Then I Ernest Gerald Gray, for and on behalf of the President, Councillors and Ratepayers of the Shire of Swan Hill, declare this the superstructure built upon it be perfect in all its parts, and reflect honour on all concerned in its erection.”
It was June, 1934 that the Special; Order allowing Council to borrow the sum of £22,000 by the issue of debentures, and providing for 30 yearly instalments of principal and 60 half yearly instalments of Interest at the rate of Four Pounds per centum per annum, and charged upon the security of the Municipal Fund was confirmed.
In August 1934, there was a large gathering of citizens present to witness the sale by auction, by Messrs. O'Connor, Egan and Co. of the Shire Hall and buildings, which were knocked down to Mr A. A. Lord, Chemist of Swan Hill for £115.
The old powerhouse in Beveridge Street was used as temporary Shire Offices whilst the New Town Hall was being built.
The leasing of the Town Hall for pictures was considered at an ordinary meeting of Council in April, 1935, when it was decided to let it to Mr. F. P. O'Halloran, of Balranald, for three nights per week for a term of five years at £5.10.0 per night.
At a meeting pf Council on the 10th of September, 1935, the recommendation of the special; committee to purchase a Steinway Horizontal Grand Piano from Mr. Guiddice of Bendigo for £285, and a Beale upright piano from Mr White for £25 was adopted.
The hall was completed and officially opened by His Excellency, Lord Huntingfield on 17th September 1935. The seating capacity was 760 in the stalls and 540 upstairs, with a supper room to seat 250 and a serviceable kitchen was provided. A good jarrah floor was provided for dancers, while another feature was a stage, which would be suitable for theatrical shows, which could not previously be  | |
staged here in Swan Hill.
Provision was also made for suitable dressing rooms, retiring rooms etc., while patrons of entertainments would appreciate heating and ventilation systems. Special attention was given to the acoustic proprieties of the hall, and an attractive system of lighting was adopted. The official Opening was a gala affair attended by over 2,000 people. Ladies were decked out in delightful frocks, with their partners in dress suits. Also assembled were Guides, Brownies, scouts, Cubs and Pipe Bands. Irene Wilson and Marjory Ansell presented bouquets to Lady Huntingfield. The Architect presented the key to the Shire President Jager, who presented it on to the governor of Victoria who opened the New Hall and unveiled a plaque on the first floor landing. The function concluded with the National Anthem, Mr. Norrie McPherson playing the new grand piano for the occasion.
That night a Gala Hospital Ball with over 1000 people in attendance was held with Mr. George Wheeler as M.C and dancing to the Ken Harper orchestra. Later in the evening 20 debutantes and their partners were presented to Lord and Lady Huntingfield.
The New Town Hall also housed the town's Municipal Chambers on the western side of the building, facing Beveridge Street. In all the New Hall had cost in the vicinity of £24,000.
The interior design of the hall follow modern tendency, the effect being achieved by straight line in colour in contrast distinguishing it from the old type of the more florid decoration. The whole of the interest in the hall is concentrated to the stage and symbolical paramental grilles, the motif of which is expressed in a series of cast swans. The interest and attention is concentrated on this main feature by a coloured series of horizontal lines all leading to the stage, carried out in scarlet and orange. The stage drapes are carried through in curtaining of orange and gold, and brings on the full tangerine colour drop curtain, which is operated electronically.
The Council Chamber is at once of dignity, and worthy of the name and tradition of municipal administration. It is carried out in brown, black, green and panelling. Inlaid of the President's chair is the seal and crest of the Shire Council and municipality. In planning and placing, each councillor's chair is set out in semi-parliamentary lines, the council chairs being placed in order, forming a semi horseshoe, on either side of the presidents chair are those for the Secretary and the Engineer.
The Presidents room is furnished with a solid table carried out in Queensland Maccasa ebony. Manufactured from similar material is a new type of sideboard, which serves as the Presidents cupboard, and fifteen upholstered chairs complete the whole.
This then was this Swan Hill Town Hall when first completed in 1935.
Since then-
In 1964 it was suggested the alterations be made to include a fireproof room in the Engineer's department, and this was done in September that year.
In October of 1983, Cr Albert Heslop gave notice of intention to move that preliminary plans and estimates be drawn up to alter the current usage of the Town Hall building, including re-establishing the Swan Hill Regional Library on the ground floor of the building. This was not proceeded with, but in 1988 discussion began on required restoration work, with a report on preliminary costs being prepared.
This covered such things as Fly tower and stage floor reconstruction, dressing rooms, fire protection, stage machinery and lighting and an audio system. The schedule of works was based on a proposed 5 year works program at cost of $1.7million.
Preliminary timing of works saw Stage I to be completed by April 1991, Stage II by April 1992, Stage III by February 1993 and stage IV by December 1993. The First booking after completion of Stage I was the 4th May 1991, but hire charges were increased because of having air-conditioning installed. Early in 1991 tenders were called for supply of commercial kitchen equipment, fire and domestic water services, plumbing works as part of Stage II redevelopment, also that work had commenced on dressing rooms and kitchen.
The Town Hall was closed in October 1991, with anticipated re-opening date as April, 1992 but in fact it was not opened until 28th November of the year. November also saw Planning Permit granted for intermittent retail trading.
It was not until November 1993 that Stage III was talked about, with 21 possible works to be incorporated. These included such things as installing carpet, enlarging ground floor kiosks and finishing first floor kiosk, providing ladies toilets upstairs, external painting and replacing existing roof. Early 1994 saw many meetings to consider further action required and cost breakdowns, including several discussions on carpeting, of area to be used as dance floor.
Stage III was completed, and the hall re-opened in late 1994. The demise of the City of Swan Hill was on the 6th December 1994, with the Amalgamation Day being 19th January 1995, when a huge Ceremony was held in the Town Hall. The Commissioners then took over the Rural City of Swan Hill until March 1997 when once again a Council of elected members tool over the municipal duties.
|
