The Colonnade of the Alexandra Shire Hall – Corner Grant and Perkins Streets, Alexandra
Melbourne’s “Argus” newspaper reported on the 19th of July 1881 that a new shire hall had been erected in Alexandra at a cost of about £3,000.00, and was considered to be one of the finest buildings of its class in the colony.
Located on Grant Street at the intersection of Perkins Street, the Alexandra Shire Hall is indeed very grand building, and is part of the north eastern Victorian town’s historical centre. It was designed by the Collins Street architect W. H. Ellerker, and whilst described by the “Argus” as Italianate in style, the hall is actually typical of the mid Victorian eclectic revival and modification of various stands of European Renaissance architecture that culminated in what was called the Academic Classical style. The building is symmetrical with large rounded windows and an arched entrance. The building date of 1881 may be found carved into the bluestone threshold of the main doors. The entire Grant Street façade is inspired by Roman architecture, with a pedimented portico derived from classical temple facades. A wonderful piece of Australiana, installed after Federation in 1901, may be found in a central cartouche in the apex of the grand gable; the Victorian coat-of-arms flanked by an emu and kangaroo, with “advance Australia” emblazoned on a ribbon below them.
Built by Thomas Carison, the Alexandra Shire Hall features a banqueting hall that could seat over 1,000 people and the grand room was often used as a ballroom for district gatherings and dances. It was the meeting place for the first shire councilors, who convened in the council chambers, and the Shire Hall also housed the office for the first shire secretary and engineer, who had their own offices in the complex.
The building narrowly avoided demolition in 1976 after there was a strong backlash by the citizens of Alexandra, who objected strongly to the proposal. Today the Shire Hall is enjoying a Renaissance as one of the focal points for Alexandra’s artistic scene.
Alexandra is a town in Victoria, Australia. It is located at the junction of the Goulburn Valley Highway (B340) and Maroondah Highway (B360), 26 kilometres west of Eildon. The town was settled in the late 1860s, with a Post Office opening on 15 March 1867 (known until 24 April 1867) as Redgate. The town was originally known as Redgate, or Red Gate Diggings. The current name either derives from Alexandra of Denmark (Queen’s Consort to King Edward VII of England) when given a stature of her to the shire; or from three men named Alexander (Alesander, McGregor, Alexander Don, and Alexander Luckie) who discovered gold in the area in 1866. Charles Jones born Herefordshire also discovered Gold on the Luckie Mine in 1866. He bought a Hotel with John Henry Osborne and was the proprietor of the New York and London Hotel Grant Street Alexandra. The railway to Alexandra arrived in the town via Yea from Tallarook in 1909, and closed on November 18, 1978. The Rubicon Tramway connected Alexandra with the village of Rubicon, at the junction of the Rubicon and Royston Rivers. Today many tourists pass through Alexandra on their way to the Mount Buller ski resort from Melbourne. The town contains the Timber Tramway and Museum (located at the Alexandra Railway Station), and the National Trust classified post office and law courts. There is a local market on the second Saturday of each month from September to May, an annual art show at Easter, an agricultural show and rose festival in November, and the annual Truck, Rod and Ute Show in June.
The Colonnade of the Alexandra Shire Hall – Corner Grant and Perkins Streets, Alexandra
Melbourne’s “Argus” newspaper reported on the 19th of July 1881 that a new shire hall had been erected in Alexandra at a cost of about £3,000.00, and was considered to be one of the finest buildings of its class in the colony.
Located on Grant Street at the intersection of Perkins Street, the Alexandra Shire Hall is indeed very grand building, and is part of the north eastern Victorian town’s historical centre. It was designed by the Collins Street architect W. H. Ellerker, and whilst described by the “Argus” as Italianate in style, the hall is actually typical of the mid Victorian eclectic revival and modification of various stands of European Renaissance architecture that culminated in what was called the Academic Classical style. The building is symmetrical with large rounded windows and an arched entrance. The building date of 1881 may be found carved into the bluestone threshold of the main doors. The entire Grant Street façade is inspired by Roman architecture, with a pedimented portico derived from classical temple facades. A wonderful piece of Australiana, installed after Federation in 1901, may be found in a central cartouche in the apex of the grand gable; the Victorian coat-of-arms flanked by an emu and kangaroo, with “advance Australia” emblazoned on a ribbon below them.
Built by Thomas Carison, the Alexandra Shire Hall features a banqueting hall that could seat over 1,000 people and the grand room was often used as a ballroom for district gatherings and dances. It was the meeting place for the first shire councilors, who convened in the council chambers, and the Shire Hall also housed the office for the first shire secretary and engineer, who had their own offices in the complex.
The building narrowly avoided demolition in 1976 after there was a strong backlash by the citizens of Alexandra, who objected strongly to the proposal. Today the Shire Hall is enjoying a Renaissance as one of the focal points for Alexandra’s artistic scene.
Alexandra is a town in Victoria, Australia. It is located at the junction of the Goulburn Valley Highway (B340) and Maroondah Highway (B360), 26 kilometres west of Eildon. The town was settled in the late 1860s, with a Post Office opening on 15 March 1867 (known until 24 April 1867) as Redgate. The town was originally known as Redgate, or Red Gate Diggings. The current name either derives from Alexandra of Denmark (Queen’s Consort to King Edward VII of England) when given a stature of her to the shire; or from three men named Alexander (Alesander, McGregor, Alexander Don, and Alexander Luckie) who discovered gold in the area in 1866. Charles Jones born Herefordshire also discovered Gold on the Luckie Mine in 1866. He bought a Hotel with John Henry Osborne and was the proprietor of the New York and London Hotel Grant Street Alexandra. The railway to Alexandra arrived in the town via Yea from Tallarook in 1909, and closed on November 18, 1978. The Rubicon Tramway connected Alexandra with the village of Rubicon, at the junction of the Rubicon and Royston Rivers. Today many tourists pass through Alexandra on their way to the Mount Buller ski resort from Melbourne. The town contains the Timber Tramway and Museum (located at the Alexandra Railway Station), and the National Trust classified post office and law courts. There is a local market on the second Saturday of each month from September to May, an annual art show at Easter, an agricultural show and rose festival in November, and the annual Truck, Rod and Ute Show in June.