Sydney Town Hall

Built from local sandstone, Sydney's ornate town hall is a magnificent civic building.

TravelCurious Tip

If you don’t feel like paying for a concert, check out the organ recital schedule – many of these events are free.

One of the city’s focal meeting points and the venue of countless events and demonstrations, Sydney Town Hall has firmly established itself as a must-see location for visitors to the New South Wales capital. It is centrally located, standing opposite the Queen Victoria Building and alongside St. Andrew’s Cathedral, and can easily be taken in as part of a day’s exploration of the city centre.


Sydney’s Wedding Cake

The town hall was built in two stages during the 1880s. A blend of the neo-Classical and French Second Empire architectural styles, its appearance does draw occasional criticism for being overblown, with its lavishly ornate façade and wedding-cake composition. That said, it is undeniably striking to the first-time viewer, and your eye will be particularly drawn to the 57m clock tower, the focal point of the exterior.


A World-Class Music Venue

The building’s main hall, known as the Centennial Hall, contains what was once the largest organ in the world, and is still the largest to use tubular pneumatic action. Installed in 1890 after a full three years of building, it is made up of almost 9000 pipes and is still regularly used for recitals. If you are looking for a fuller experience of the place than a quick visit will allow, it is well worth stopping by for a musical performance, of which there are many different kinds. The Centennial Hall’s acoustics are world-class – in fact, until the construction of the Sydney Opera House in 1973, the town hall was the city’s premier concert venue.


Nearby Attractions

See all attractions in Sydney
Darling Harbour
Perfect for people-watching, dining by the water and admiring the city skyline.
Hyde Park
An oasis of calm in Sydney's busy city centre, famed for its fig-lined avenues.
St Mary's Cathedral
Situated next to Hyde Park, St. Mary's is the most important church in Sydney - it's also the longest in Australia.
Sydney Tower Eye
The tallest building in Sydney offers breathtaking 360 degree views of the city.
The Strand Arcade
This 19th century arcade is at the heart of downtown Sydney, and full of delightful boutique shops.
City Skyline
The city's iconic silhouettes are best viewed from across Darling Harbour, the North Shore or from a ferry cruise.

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