New look for Old Council Chambers

Published on 18 February 2022

The Old Council Chambers on Manning Street have been given a new lease on life thanks to renovations to protect the 122-year-old building.

The heritage-listed building, constructed in 1900, served as the chambers for council meetings until 1982.

The Chambers had developed concrete cancer in its iconic portico columns as well as a number of other structural issues.

The work involved replacing one of the six-metre-high columns entirely, due to the extent of the damage.

No small task given each column weighs in at 23 tonnes with the team having to remove the column in five different pieces.

Repairs were also carried out on the other three columns before all were given a protective coating and a new lick of paint.

The building’s timber frame also had some strengthening done, and cracked masonry patched up.

Thanks to the careful work of our heritage conservation contractor, Murphys Group Services, the Old Chambers are well placed for their second century serving our community.