Listed on the Victorian Heritage Register, the 19th-century building is a versatile event venue that once served many functions due to the wide range of spaces it offered. Collingwood Town Hall boasts Second Empire style architecture and beautiful Art Deco interiors refurbished in 1938. The gorgeous space now welcomes a great variety of cultural events, including enchanting Candlelight concerts.
As the name suggests, the impressive building is situated in the heart of Collingwood, making it very easy to reach by public transport or car. You can take several buses from various locations throughout the city, including the 905, 906, 907 lines or the Mernda train line from Melbourne Central Railway Station and hop off at Collingwood Railway Station (Abbotsford). It’s only a short three-minute walk from there. Nevertheless, if you insist on taking your car, there are a few street parking spots along Hoddle Street, Stanton Street and Park Street.
Candlelight concerts at Collingwood Town Hall
The popular Candlelight concert series that has taken Melbourne by storm, has also selected the charming Collingwood Town Hall among other unique venues, for its classical tributes to some of the most successful artists in music history. Performed by classically trained musicians, these spectacular concerts enchant audiences with their trademark sea of twinkling candles that make the evening even more special. You can look forward to hearing tributes to pop culture sensations Taylor Swift, Coldplay, Whitney Houston and Tchaikovsky’s famous “Swan Lake”, accompanied by a ballet performance.
Facts, Curiosities, and Interesting Things about Collingwood Town Hall
1. The building incorporated many functions in the one project.
The town hall included municipal offices, a council chamber, a post office, a police station, a court house, and a mechanics institute. Additionally, some of these spaces had residential rooms attached, so it truly represented the civic and cultural heart and soul of Collingwood.
2. Collingwood Town Hall is a prime example of Second Empire style architecture.
Designed in 1885 by local architect George R. Johnson, whose buildings you’ll find scattered across Melbourne, the detailed structure features a soaring clock tower, surrounded by domed mansard roofs. The building perfectly characterised the gold rush and boom years of Melbourne in the 1880s.
3. The Town Hall now functions as secondary offices for the Collingwood area for the City of Yarra.
In 1994, the Cities of Fitzroy and Richmond were integrated into the City of Yarra. The administrative centre of the City of Yarra is the old Richmond Town Hall in Bridge Road, Richmond. Hence, the Collingwood Town Hall has a secondary function. It’s mainly a service centre used for special functions and as an exhibition space.
What else can you do at Collingwood Town Hall?
Besides basking in the company of renowned musicians and listening to classical renditions of popular melodies, the town hall ballroom has welcomed musicians, performers, as well as dancers and fitness instructors to give classes in the main hall and organised a myriad of other cultural events for the community. Another standout event is the Mindful Glow experience, a 75-minute candlelit sound bath that helps to relax and heal the mind.
Although Melbourne is rich in cultural spaces, there’s few other venues that beautifully blend history and stunning architecture quite like the Collingwood Town Hall. The event space has a beautiful main hall, perfect for any kind of small to large event and is wheelchair accessible. Its walls have seen countless performances and shows throughout the years and this season, the impressive building is playing host to yet another cultural event, the sensational Candlelight concerts. If you’re interested in finding out about other select spaces hosting these one-of-a-kind tributes, take a look here.