
Perth Town Hall and Perth Foundation Plaque, Perth
The Perth Town Hall is the only town hall in Australia built by convicts. Designed by Richard Roach Jewell and James Manning in the Victorian Free Gothic style, the hall, in fact, was built by both convicts and free men, between 1867 and 1870. Its decorations contain a number of convict motifs such as the windows presented in the shape of a broad arrow and decorations in the shape of a hangman's rope.
The foundation stone for Perth Town Hall was laid on 24 May 1867, by Governor Hampton, in a ceremony involving a lot of pomp and parade. Despite the torrential downpours occurred that day, the ceremony went on anyway with an official procession from Government House and a mock battle performed by the Volunteer Regiments, Enrolled Forces of Pensioners, and the WA Country Regiment.
The city of Perth itself was founded by Captain James Stirling in 1829. Its official foundation ceremony took place on 12 August 1829 with the chopping down of a tree by Mrs. Helen Dance, the only woman in the party. This event is commemorated by a plaque set in the footpath of Barrack Street, in front of the Town Hall, to mark its approximate location.
For most of the 20th century, the building's ground floor had housed various businesses, including a pharmacy, bank, lunch bar and different shops; the public lavatories accessible from Barrack Street were the only ones available in the area. All these businesses and the attendant structures were removed prior to the renovation of the hall in the early 2000s.
For many years, Perth Town Hall was the most prominent civic building within the city. Today, this grand edifice is still fit to charm many modern onlookers.
The foundation stone for Perth Town Hall was laid on 24 May 1867, by Governor Hampton, in a ceremony involving a lot of pomp and parade. Despite the torrential downpours occurred that day, the ceremony went on anyway with an official procession from Government House and a mock battle performed by the Volunteer Regiments, Enrolled Forces of Pensioners, and the WA Country Regiment.
The city of Perth itself was founded by Captain James Stirling in 1829. Its official foundation ceremony took place on 12 August 1829 with the chopping down of a tree by Mrs. Helen Dance, the only woman in the party. This event is commemorated by a plaque set in the footpath of Barrack Street, in front of the Town Hall, to mark its approximate location.
For most of the 20th century, the building's ground floor had housed various businesses, including a pharmacy, bank, lunch bar and different shops; the public lavatories accessible from Barrack Street were the only ones available in the area. All these businesses and the attendant structures were removed prior to the renovation of the hall in the early 2000s.
For many years, Perth Town Hall was the most prominent civic building within the city. Today, this grand edifice is still fit to charm many modern onlookers.
Sight description based on Wikipedia.
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 iTunes 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.
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:
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
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 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: 4.1 Km or 2.5 Miles
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: 4.1 Km or 2.5 Miles
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
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