Tuesday, July 24, 2018

South Brisbane with the Brisbane City Sketchers

What a glorious winters morning.  I sketched with friends in a historic part of South Brisbane, the "Town Hall" (The building is now part of Somerville House Girls School)
South Brisbane Municipal Hall is a magnificent building, with working clock tower and gargoyles.  In 1891, work commenced on the construction of the town hall. The building was officially opened on 1 July 1892   Although it was widely known as the "Town Hall", it was officially the South Brisbane Municipal Chambers. 
The builder was Abraham James,
Building commenced in January 1891. Work proceeded for six months, when the contractor developed financial difficulties. he lost his contract and the following tradesmen finished the work.
  • Messrs John Stuart & Co won the tender for the stonework, brickwork, carpentry and joining work
  • Mr John Campbell for the plasterwork
  • Mr James Kay for the plumbing and gasfitting
  • Messrs James Lang & Co for painting and glazing, while Messrs Exton and Gough continued as the providers of leadlights
The building was predominantly constructed from red Coorparoo and Waterstown bricks (without any alteration of natural colour). The brown and white sandstone facings are used in the entrance and exterior walls were supplied from Pearson's Quarry at Helidon. The exterior decoration used terracotta panelling (also in its natural colour) supplied by James Campbell & Sons of Albion. Ribbed galvanised iron was used for the roof.
I tell you this because, the building looks as magnificent today, as when it was first built. the building style is Italianate Classic Revival
 


I love this building below, it is so elegant.  The South Brisbane Municipal Library was designed by Francis Drummond Greville Stanley and built from 1881 to 1902 by W Macfarlane. This complex is composed of three structures built at different times in response to different needs: the South Brisbane Post Office (1881); the South Brisbane Municipal Library (1897); and the City Concert Hall (1902)
It is also known as South Brisbane School of Arts, South Brisbane Mechanics Institute, South Brisbane Technical College, and South Brisbane Post & Telegraph Office. It is now the Griffith University Film School.
 

Both these buildings are listed on the Heritage register.
Sketched in my handmade 8" x 6" sketchbook 90lb paper
Pen and Watercolour

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