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STANLEY - A Brief History of the Town Hall

Stanley is a small town (pop. 500) located on
the north-west coast of Tasmania, it is a
popular tourist destination and the main
fishing port on the north-west coast.

The most distinctive feature of the area is The
Nut, an old volcanic plug discovered by the
explorers Bass and Flinders in 1798, it has
steep sides and rises to 143 metres with a flat
top, and is a popular spot for tourists.

tanley Town Hall was opened in 1911,
Sthe town hall is an asymmetrical two
storied building constructed in the Federation
Free Style of architecture at the time of the
federation of Australian States into the
Commonwealth of Australia.
The architect
w a s
A l e x a n d e r
North (1858-
1945) born
and educated
in England, known as the Crystal Talkies, as well as live toilet facilities, extensive electrical rewiring,
w h o entertainment. Apart from the main window replacement and external painting of
immigrated to auditorium, which has a proscenium arch the building. The construction for these
Hobart in complete with orchestra pit, there is an upstairs improvements was carried out by builder
1883. In gallery area with a separate supper room ideal Bishop Constructions.
T a s m a n i a , for small conferences. The Town Hall now has a multitude of uses
North became In 1998 Stanley Town Hall was placed on the from wedding receptions to live performances
known as an
permanent list of the Tasmanian and events. The Crystal Theatre Film Society
outstanding Heritage Register as a fine show films once a month, resurrecting what
c h u r c h
architect. example of a local government was once a very popular form of entertainment
building in its architectural style
in years gone by. Even though it is all modern
H i s and because its “townscape technology used now, the original projection
S t a n l e y
Town Hall associations are regarded as area is still visible upstairs which also displays
an old Raycophone J3 projector. ★
important
to
the
The original ticket box b u i l d i n g , community’s sense of
constructed by
builder W.McDonald of Launceston, is a place”.
monolithic concrete structure with the walls The Hall was enhanced Text and images:
being executed in a series of horizontal pours. in 2009 by builder Sue Smedley, Stanley Museum
North was a pioneer of concrete construction Stronach Constructions with
in Tasmania. the addition of dressing rooms for
visiting performers and a fully equipped
Around 1930 the main auditorium was Raycophone J3 projector (minus top spool box)
renovated in the then fashionable Art Deco kitchen for the catering of events and
functions.
style so that it could accommodate a cinema,
In 2010-11 a
S t a t e
G o v e r n m e n t
grant allowed a
s u b s t a n t i a l
r e n o v a t i o n
project to
celebrate the
b u i l d i n g s
centennial. The
improvements
included full
restoration of
the auditorium
décor, new
seating, new
house and stage
lighting, sound
systems and
p r o j e c t i o n
equipment, new

CINEMARECORD # 92 9