Page 23 - CinemaRecord #86

structural cracking. Councillors also thought
the further prestige of including a hall for
community functions would be beneficial to
the growing town. Another impetus was fire
engulfing the Melba Hall in Devereux Street
on 24 April 1938.

The new Shire Hall was designed by
Melbourne architectural firm, Seabrook and
Fildes, who were instructed to include a
hall/ballroom/picture theatre, supper room with
facilities, council chamber and offices, clock
tower, as well as an infant welfare centre in the
design.
The Council hoped that revenue from the lease
of the hall as a picture theatre (for over 600
pounds a year) would help alleviate concerns
by ratepayers about the cost and repayment
arrangements of this new civic undertaking –
therefore its suitability for this purpose was
intrinsic in its design.
Warracknabeal Town Hall interior 2015
The Warracknabeal Town Hall was the largest
civic building designed by the firm. Norman
Seabrook had won the design competition for Warracknabeal were not familiar with the very financial arrangements. This initial offer
the McRobertson Girls’ High School, Albert similarly designed Heidelberg Town Hall was for screening 4 nights a week as well
Park in 1934 to much notoriety, and had formed (1937) by architects Peck & Kemter in as proceeds from the confectionery kiosk.
his partnership with Fildes (who also worked association with A.C Leith & Associates.
on the Albert Park project) in 1936. Seabrook The new Warracknabeal Town Hall (built
had studied and worked previously in England This controversy instigated a special poll that by A.A. Meyer & Sons) is constructed of
and was influenced by a Dutch modernist was conducted in October 1938 for ratepayers cream-brick with three vertical strips of
architect, Willem Dudok, in his travels through to vote on the Town Hall proposal. On deeply recessed, symmetrically placed
Europe in the early 1930s. This influence in 25 October, a substantial majority supported the windows on the Scott Street frontage with
Seabrook’s individual design style came to be new building for Warracknabeal. The old Shire other horizontal and vertical elements. A
known as the ‘European Modernism’ Hall and offices were demolished in March dominant clock tower (with a panel of dark
emanating from the ‘De Stijl’ movement. 1939 and the Foundation Stone for the new tiles contrasted by the brickwork) is on the
building was laid on 21 July 1939. corner marking the entrance to the
There was significant opposition to the cost of municipal offices. Interestingly, the clocks
the new building by ratepayers, and many were A proviso for the new hall was that O’Halloran from the demolished Shire Hall were
not impressed with the ‘moderne’ appearance, Theatres Co. would vacate the Dal Monte reinstalled. The entrance to the hall has a
being not of the usual ‘classical’ design of most theatre and undertake a 7 year lease to screen thin concrete awning between massive
Town Hall buildings. Residents of films on its completion to assist the Council’s piers, glazed with advertising panels.

The entrance foyer still
retains a ticket booth on
one side and a kiosk on the
other from its original
design, with the stairs
leading to the balcony.

The interior, though
austere, has foyers both at
the entrance and in the
balcony dress circle, where
there is also a bio-box,
toilets and adjacent council
chamber. A stage that
incorporated the cinema
screen is unfortunately
small, with cramped
facilities. In the design, it
was the Shire’s plan to buy
the adjoining block at the
rear (eastern) end, but
circumstances prevailed
(cost or an obstinate vendor
are possible reasons)
meaning that compromises
had to be made at the time,
resulting in the reduced
Warracknabeal Town Hall interior 2015 stage size and amenities.

CINEMARECORD # 86 23