Perth Town Hall and Perth Foundation Plaque, Perth

Perth Town Hall and Perth Foundation Plaque, Perth

The Perth Town Hall stands out as the only town hall across Australia that was constructed with the help of convict labor. It was designed by Richard Roach Jewell and James Manning, showcasing the Victorian Free Gothic style, and its construction from 1867 to 1870 saw the involvement of both convicts and free individuals. Unique features of the hall include decorations inspired by convict life, such as window designs reminiscent of the broad arrow symbol and hangman's noose motifs.

The hall's cornerstone was set in place on May 24, 1867, by Governor Hampton during a lavish ceremony. Despite heavy rain, the event proceeded with a grand procession from the Government House and a staged battle by local military groups, demonstrating the community's resilience and spirit.

Perth's establishment goes back to 1829, credited to Captain James Stirling. The formal founding moment involved Mrs. Helen Dance cutting down a tree on August 12, 1829, a historical moment now marked by a plaque near the Town Hall.

Throughout the 20th century, the ground level of the Town Hall hosted a variety of businesses such as a pharmacy, bank, and various shops, offering the only public restrooms in the vicinity. These commercial entities and accompanying structures were cleared out before the early 2000s renovation.

For a long time, the Perth Town Hall was a key landmark in the city's civic landscape. Even today, it remains an impressive structure that continues to attract and fascinate visitors and locals alike.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Perth. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Perth Town Hall and Perth Foundation Plaque on Map

Sight Name: Perth Town Hall and Perth Foundation Plaque
Sight Location: Perth, Australia (See walking tours in Perth)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Walking Tours in Perth, Australia

Create Your Own Walk in Perth

Create Your Own Walk in Perth

Creating your own self-guided walk in Perth is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Perth Introduction Walking Tour

Perth Introduction Walking Tour

Perth is the capital of Western Australia. With a population of more than 2 million, the metropolitan area is the fourth largest in the country.

Perth was founded by Captain James Stirling in 1829. It was the first free-settler colony in Australia established by private capital. The official foundation ceremony took place on 12 August 1829 with the chopping down of a tree. Today a plaque set...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.2 Km or 2.6 Miles
Perth Historic Buildings Walk

Perth Historic Buildings Walk

Established by British settlers in 1829 and originally named the Swan River Colony, the city of Perth boasts a wealth of old buildings – governmental, religious, residential, commercial and institutional, – many of which are heritage-listed.

Just like other Western Australia’s settlements, the city struggled throughout the 1800s from the lack of resources, labor and investment. However,...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.3 Km or 2.1 Miles