Facing King George Square between Adelaide and Ann Streets

Brisbane City Hall 

More than any other building in Greater Brisbane this iconic structure with its characteristic clock tower symbolizes the civic pride of this city to the extent that it lends its outline to the City's Crest. 

The video below shows the formation of cross bedding in sandstone. Cross bedding is evident in the sandstone blocks at the corner to the right end of the City Hall doorway.

https://konect-tourism.s3.amazonaws.com/Cross.mp4

History:

The start of City Hall's construction was hampered by hazards and delays because the location was a former swamp; excavations tin excess of 17 m were required to find bedrock.. An initial fountain stone was laid in 1917. A second foundation stone in 1920 raised more enthusiasm for the construction. When the Greater Brisbane City Council was created in 1925, replacing 19 local Councils, there was a need for a City Hall. By 1927 the first Council workers were using parts of the building and the first Council meeting was held in the building in 1928.

The City Hall was officially opened on the 8th April 1930.

It was closed for renovation between 2010 and 2013 to address problems including subsidence and concrete cancer The cost of this work was $215 million a cost of $215 million, however Brisbane now has a much more functional City Hall building. Completion of the restoration was celebrated with an "open day" in April 2013.

The only administrative functions remaining in the City Hall are the suite of offices for the Lord Mayor and Deputy Lord Mayor.

The characteristic feature of this building is the 85 m high tower with its 4.8 m diameter clock faces. The tower was the landmark of the city skyline until it began to be lost in the shadows of the high rise buildings in the 1960s.

The Queensland Heritage Register and the National Trust of Queensland list City Hall as a 'culturally, historically and architecturally significant building'. The Brisbane City Hall is one of the main hubs for Brisbane's civic, community, artistic and social life.  

Foundation stone 1910

Building Material:

The building is constructed of concrete, brick and steel, with a base of Samford Granodiorite from near Camp Mountain. Historical documents refer to the granite as Camp Mountain Granite, but this term is disused in geological literature.

The grey biotite granodiorite has common mafic microdiorite enclaves. These are clumps of country rock that have been caught in the hot fluid magmas before forming the granite rock. Above the granite base courses, the east, north and west sides of the building and the clock tower are clad in freestone comprising Helidon Sandstone(Formation: Woogaroo Subgroup) from Wright's quarry.

The facade overlooking King George Square is dominated by Corinthian columns made of Helidon Sandstone. The entrance is capped by a pediment with a sculpture of early settlement by Daphne Mayo.

Various foundation stones embedded on the granite plinth along the King George Square facade are made of Carrara Marble from Italy.

The interior includes two marble columns that support an arch above a white marble staircase. The white marble staircase and railings were manufactured and then imported from Carrara, Italy. The orange, medium grey and black marbles were sourced from various locations around Orange, NSW.

Construction:

Hall & Prentice (architect), Arthur Midson (granite base courses), Douglas Dunn Carrick (sandstone cladding), Thinc Projects (restoration work 2009-2013).