22 February 2024
Had to go way out east recently, and saw this – Dandenong Town Hall sits majestically on the main drag, looming over the traffic. Completed in 1890, at the height of the boom, it’s got the tower and elaborate renaissance revival details of so many built at that time. Quite a statement for what was a quiet county town at the time, with only ‘647 ratepayers’. The architect for this one was John Beswicke (with Mr Hutchins), who did Hawthorn and Malvern Town Halls as well. It included a courthouse and mechanics institute, but it seems not much is left inside, in fact it’s just one room deep on two sides now (perhaps always was), with the 500 seat Drum Theatre inserted behind in 2002, by Williams Ross. Pic from behind showing the theater Alamy, old photo 1890 from star community news. The clock wasn’t added till 1934.
Storey of Melbourne 