A draftsman's sketch of the Town Hall prior to construction, depicting the original lower height of the clock tower.
In July 1848, surveyor Thomas Townsend fixed the site for the future township of Deniliquin on the stock crossing on the Edward River.
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The township was officially gazetted on March 12, 1850.
The municipality of Deniliquin was formed in 1867, and the first town mayor elected was Major James Watson.
It wasn’t until 1870 when the grant of land for the Town Hall was issued.
Local architect JH Jones won the Town Hall design competition with his Italian style architecture design in 1876, from a field of 20 competitors.
The building contract was successfully tendered to Mr G Anderson in April of the same year.
The Town Hall was opened by the NSW Governor Sir Hercules Robinson on November 29, 1876.
An evening ball with supper and speeches was held.
In his opening speech, the governor said “the building did credit to the taste and youthful enterprise of this youthful city”.
The following two years saw a flurry of formal and social functions held at the hall.
On December 20, 1878 a fire from a fallen kerosene stage lamp completely gutted the concert hall from floor to rafter, destroying the entire roof and just leaving the brick walls standing.
In the following March, the NSW Government pledged to match pound for each pound collected from ratepayers to rebuild the concert hall, but only if a clock was placed in the tower and not at the post office.
Funds were raised and on May 31, 1879, Hunter and Son was awarded the tender to rebuild.
It took three months and included a number of improvements, including extending the height of the hall by raising the ceiling joists and enriching the ceiling with decorative plaster motifs and ornamental brackets.
Adjoining the main hall on the east side was a supper room.
A larger stage extending in both height and width was constructed to allow for theatrical performances.
The Town Hall stage circa 1879.
As quoted in the Pastoral Times on July 26, 1879 “the design of the new stage is very neat and in keeping with the rest of the hall, consisting of an entablature with an ornamented frieze supported at each end by raised pilasters. The stage has been fitted with first class scenery, painted in Melbourne”.
A walnut upright grand Ronisch piano was purchased for the hall after much council debate in 1887, for the sum of £63.
A weight driven pendulum clock was finally installed in the Town Hall’s clock tower on August 24, 1904, a gift to the community from Captain George Landale to commemorate the reign of Queen Victoria.
The next major upgrade for the hall was in November 1928, when the concert hall was enlarged.
Now capable of seating 400, it was constructed by Mr WJ Caddy for £3,750.
Pressed metal ceilings were replaced with plaster ceiling, the central glass dome was added, and the hall length was extended by 17m.
Deniliquin's first Anzac Day service, held on the steps of the Town Hall in 1916.
An orchestra pit was built in front of the stage and a 100 seat balcony was built at the east end of the hall.
This is also when electrical lighting was installed.
Various works and maintenance have been undertaken at the Town Hall in the many years since, but it soon became clear more significant work would be required when structural issues with the hall were highlighted in the 2010s.
It eventually forced the closure of the Town Hall to the public in 2011.
The former Deniliquin Council undertook various works to stabilise the front facade and, hopeful plans to rejuvenate the Town Hall would come soon after, installing a new commercial kitchen with grant funding. The roof was also replaced in that period.
New toilets were added to the Town Hall by Edward River Council in 2017, and these latest renovations were started in 2020.
The Deniliquin Town Hall mid refurbishment in 2021.
Photo by
Laura Green
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