That's Built · Building report

MELBOURNE TOWN HALL

100 Swanston Street, Melbourne VIC 3000

Generated 8 November 2026
Commercial · Performances, Conferences, Ceremonies

—height

2floors

1887completed

2businesses

2permits

Development milestones

Completed

1887

MELBOURNE TOWN HALL completed: 2 floors

Building team

Architect: Joseph Reed
Architect: Reed & Barnes
Architect: Stephenson & Meldrum
Architect: Hassell
Architect: Grainger, Kennedy & Little
Owner: City of Melbourne

Planning & subdivision

Zone: CCZ1
Overlays: DDO1, DDO2, DDO2-A9, DDO70, HO504, HO746, PO1
Strata plan: TP971324 · 1 lots
Scores: 🚆 10 · ☕ 7 · 🌳 8 · ✨ 10

Timeline

20221 building permit · about $518k of new works
Largest: Level 4 Refurbishment - Town hall administration building refurbishment.

20201 building permit and 1 certificate · about $1.7m of new works
Largest: Town hall administration building refurbishment.

10 May 2019Hassell appointed to design new public forum in Melbourne Town Hall
Architecture AU reported that Hassell had been appointed architect for the rejuvenation of the Town Hall. The council planned to spend more than $1.5 million revamping the ground floor, starting with a pilot project that year that would create a new public forum for council decision-making meetings.

2002First council census entry: performances, conferences, ceremonies, 6 floors

1 Feb 1925Fire gutts main hall; council resolves to rebuild on same site
A fire in the early hours of 1 February 1925 gutted the Town Hall's main hall, destroying the organ and mayoral portraits. About a fortnight later the council resolved to rebuild on the same site.

1887MELBOURNE TOWN HALL completed: 2 floors
Derived from City of Melbourne

11 Aug 1870Town hall officially opened with a ball
The new Melbourne Town Hall was officially opened on 11 August 1870 with a lavish ball, which was personally funded by Lord Mayor Samuel Amess.

29 Nov 1867Duke of Edinburgh lays foundation stone for new town hall
The foundation stone of the new Melbourne Town Hall was laid by Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh, on 29 November 1867.

Building permits and certificates (3)

Each cost is the estimate on that record. Stages of a project often repeat its full value, so these don't add up to what was spent.

30 Mar 2022	Level 4 Refurbishment - Town hall administration building refurbishment.	$518k
02 Nov 2020	Town hall administration building refurbishment.	$1.7m
24 Apr 2020	Town hall administration building refurbishment.	$1.7m

Questions and answers

Is MELBOURNE TOWN HALL residential or commercial?
MELBOURNE TOWN HALL is a commercial building. The City of Melbourne lists its main use as performances, conferences, ceremonies.

When was MELBOURNE TOWN HALL built?
MELBOURNE TOWN HALL was completed in 1887.

How many floors does MELBOURNE TOWN HALL have?
MELBOURNE TOWN HALL has 2 floors above ground.

What businesses are in MELBOURNE TOWN HALL?
The latest council census counted 2 businesses in MELBOURNE TOWN HALL, including City of Melbourne and Seg At Melbourne Town Hall.

Is there office or retail space for lease in MELBOURNE TOWN HALL?
See the commercial listings on this page, or search this address on realcommercial.com.au and commercialrealestate.com.au.

Who designed and built MELBOURNE TOWN HALL?
Reed & Barnes designed MELBOURNE TOWN HALL. The building team section has the sources.

What public transport is near MELBOURNE TOWN HALL?
Town Hall Station is the nearest train station, about 2 minutes' walk. The nearest tram stop is Melbourne Town Hall/Collins St #6, about 1 minute's walk.

What is the planning zone for MELBOURNE TOWN HALL?
The site is in the Capital City Zone - Schedule 1 (CCZ1). It's also under a Heritage Overlay (HO504).

Does MELBOURNE TOWN HALL have an owners corporation?
Plan of subdivision TP971324 has 1 lot.

Has any work been done on MELBOURNE TOWN HALL recently?
The City of Melbourne has issued 2 building permits for MELBOURNE TOWN HALL since 2020. The most recent was in March 2022.

Sources: City of Melbourne building permits (CC BY 4.0); CLUE building information (CC BY 4.0); CLUE business establishments (CC BY 4.0); Geocoded National Address File (G-NAF) (Open G-NAF EULA (CC BY 4.0 based)). General information from public records, not legal, financial or building advice.