Sydney Town Hall by annied

Sydney Town Hall

Although the Town Hall is a multipurpose building with a high degree of adaptability, the primary functions of Sydney Town Hall have changed little in over 140 years. Large spaces which can be adapted for meetings, exhibitions, receptions and performances dominate the interior which also accommodates the council chamber and civic offices for the lord mayor and aldermen. Outside, the steps and balconies provide the ceremonial platforms for street parades and stages for democratic expression while high above, the public clock keeps the city on time.
Once described as a ‘bride cake’, the architecture of Sydney Town Hall is a composite of neo-Classical and French Second Empire elements, combining the imperial antiquity of ancient Greece and Rome with fashionable French architecture popularised in the public buildings and grand chateaux constructed during the reign of Napoleon III (1852-1870).
The first stage of the town hall (1868-1884) to be completed comprised the Vestibule and aldermen’s offices on the ground floor, the Council Chamber and retiring rooms and a proposed library on the first floor and operational facilities in the basement. The clock tower was completed in 1873.
City Architect, Thomas Sapsford and his assistant John Hennessey, produced designs which became the basis for the second stage (1884-1889).
The front steps of Sydney Town Hall are the city’s most popular central meeting place – they are also the stage for many of Sydney’s public civic events. It is here that the Lord Mayor of Sydney welcomes and receives honoured citizens, visiting dignitaries sporting teams, military units, and street parades to the city. http://365project.org/annied/the-ones-i-left/2014-01-22

come a little closer
http://365project.org/annied/people-and-plac/2014-07-18

A marvellous capture of a grand old building. Fav.
July 5th, 2014  
@thresheg thank you so much - Next time I am in the city I am going to give photographing it a real go :)
July 5th, 2014  
Nice photograph, Annie; the tone suits the age of the building. I enjoyed reading the history, too.
July 5th, 2014  
Such great use of B&W
July 5th, 2014  
@wordpixman thank you so much - I want to take some more when I am in there next
July 5th, 2014  
Superb shot. Love your processing
July 5th, 2014  
@graemestevens
thank you - it is a beautiful building - easy to make it look good
July 5th, 2014  
A super take Annie,miss Sydney.
This is a lovely old building.
Very nice.
July 5th, 2014  
@skippysue thanks Suze - I am rather partial too it
July 5th, 2014  
Sam
Yes the Town Hall is a beautiful looking building and a place where you can ask people to meet you and they know where it is!!! I certainly do like your processing on this one :)
July 5th, 2014  
@gigiflower thanks Sam - yes a good meeting point lol
July 5th, 2014  
AC
Gorgeous processing and patterns!
July 5th, 2014  
That is a smashing bit of architecture.
July 5th, 2014  
You have my attention with this… If nothing else happens, i’ll post a ‘twin’ to this tomorrow… :-)
July 5th, 2014  
@bankmann oh I look forward to it :) love your building images
July 6th, 2014  
I love the contrast u got here . . and more wonderful memories for me . . of meeting friends there during my high school days :-)
July 9th, 2014  
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