North Melbourne Town Hall, Municipal heritage building in North Melbourne, Australia
North Melbourne Town Hall is a former town hall on the corner of Errol and Queensberry Streets, built in 1876 to a design by architect George Raymond Johnson in the Italianate style with Second Empire elements. The building now houses Arts House, a contemporary arts space, and the North Melbourne Library in its northern section.
Built in 1876 to designs by architect George Raymond Johnson, the hall served the Town of North Melbourne, originally the Town of Hotham, until the municipality merged into the City of Melbourne in 1905. It was then leased to the Department of Defence as offices from 1918 to 1922, with the Railways Department also occupying part of the building around 1920–1922, and reopened to the public in December 1922.
The building houses Arts House, a contemporary arts venue that has operated since 1996, bringing exhibitions and performances to the community. The space functions as a gathering point where artists and visitors engage with modern creative work.
The building is easily located at the corner of Errol and Queensberry Streets and welcomes visitors interested in exploring the arts venue and library. Weekday visits tend to offer a quieter experience for browsing the retail spaces and viewing exhibitions at a relaxed pace.
A cast-iron drinking fountain on the footpath near the hall was donated by Thomas Henderson, a mayor of Hotham, the municipality's earlier name. It carries an ornamental kangaroo and is registered by the National Trust of Victoria.
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