The Brisbane City Hall, situated adjacent King George Square in Brisbane City, is a fantastic building and the centrepiece for our beautiful city.
From what I have gathered, Brisbane City Hall was designed in the Italian Renaissance style, with the layout, both formal and symmetrical. City Hall contains three separate floors and also, a partial basement.
Within its centre, City Hall contains a stunning copper dome, covering the auditorium. This auditorium, based on the Pantheon in Rome, can seat up to 2,500 people. The acoustics within, are amazing and superbly suited to the 4,600 pipes organ, built in 1892 by Henry Willis & Sons, of Liverpool, UK. This organ was moved to the City Hall in 1927 and upon which, the City Hall's first organ recital was held in 1929.
Taken by S A de Jager
On the 14th of November, 2009 a commemorative recital was held as Brisbane celebrated the 80th anniversary of the organs installation. This was the last organ recital at Brisbane City Hall, prior to the commencement of the buildings restoration project, closing on the 31st of December, 2009.
The organ was totally dismantled, to be removed from the building for storage with plans for the organs to return to City Hall, in 2012.
In addition to the awesome organs, City Hall has an impressive 70 metre high clock tower (rising 91 metres above ground level), which is based upon the design of the St Mark's Campanile in Venice, Italy.
Above the clocks is an observation platform which I still remember visiting, many years ago, that is open to the public and accessible by lift between 10am and 3pm seven days a week, for free. The four clock faces, one on each side of the tower, are said to be the largest in Australia, to date. During the Brisbane Festival 2011, lighting has been set up around to light this wonderful building and I for one am a huge fan.
Brisbane Festival 2011 - Taken by Stephen de Jager
