Box Hill Town Hall turns 90
Eli Kelly
Heading to the polls? Organising a meeting for your not-for-profit group? Seeing a Wiggles performance? Well, you’d be heading to the Box Hill Town Hall.
Nestled amongst local businesses, this old Néo-Grec style building is just a 5-minute walk from the station and has served as a civic and cultural hub for the community since its inauguration in 1935. Built by architects J.S. Gawler and J.C. Aisbett, the heritage-listed building will be 90 years old this year – a milestone worth celebrating.
While many aspects remain preserved, the Town Hall has undergone numerous changes, reflecting the broader transformation of the region itself. Originally part of the City of Box Hill, the building came under the City of Whitehorse in 1994 following a council merger with Nunawading.
Prior to its construction, the council’s first official meetings were held in Shire Hall, in 1889. A piece of this history is preserved in one of the twin foundation stones placed during the construction of the Town Hall.
Comprising 10 diverse spaces, the Town Hall houses functions, events, and meeting spaces for not-for-profit groups, such as the Migrant Information Centre and the Box Hill Historical Society (BHHS).
Box Hill’s multicultural standing is reflected through the ‘Matsudo Room’, named for Whitehorse’s sister city in Japan. As such, the Town Hall plays host to the Japanese Festival each year, the most recent attracting around 7,000 people. With upcoming events such as the Persian, Japanese, and Indonesian festivals, the Town Hall never ceases its vibrant cultural scene.
One of the most charming spaces is the old courtroom. As you head down a corridor lined with portraits of former mayors, you enter a space frozen in time: from the scent of the old wooden benches, old council maps upon the walls, and the gavel resting on the bench. It is truly indicative of the preservation of the building. No wonder it became a filming location in the TV show ‘Neighbours’.
The Whitehorse Artspace is one of the more modern spaces in the Town Hall, its open plan immersing visitors as they are greeted by the famous ‘Whitehorse’ statue, which once stood upon the White Horse Hotel – Box Hill’s first brick building. After enduring the test of time and the 1985 fire, the fibreglass replica of the original statue was relocated to the Town Hall in 1986 and remains on display as a symbol of the city. As the Box Hill region is the birthplace of Australian Impressionism, the Whitehorse Artspace is also home to significant pieces by these pioneering Australian Impressionists. It also welcomes a diverse range of exhibitions in various mediums, such as its upcoming exhibit Annemieke Mein: Nature revealed (11 July – 30 August), representing Australian flora and fauna through textile art.
Box Hill Town Hall is a picture of the past and present, as it aims to preserve yet progress. From the maintenance of its original pipes to adopting solar panels to aid sustainability efforts. This is a testament to the staff who contribute to the continuance of the Box Hill Town Hall and the community that keeps it thriving after 90 years.
Currently, the BHHS is inviting individuals to share memories of their involvement in events at the Town Hall, as part of a project to create a social history of the building. If you have memories of your involvement or work with the Box Hill Town Hall — whether at events or functions — the BHHS is compiling a social history for publication. Written material can be emailed to boxhillhistory@gmail.com or sent to P.O. Box 268, Box Hill 3128.
I’d like to acknowledge the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung people of the Kulin Nation as the Traditional Owners of the land where Box Hill Town Hall stands.