Glebe Town Hall

In the 1880s, increasing prosperity and civic pride in Glebe led to the construction of a series of major public buildings in St Johns Road. Amongst these is the Glebe Town Hall, located at 160 St Johns Road. Built in two stages: one in 1880 and the other in 1891, its Victorian Free Classical Style with Italianate elements, is the most elaborate example of its kind in Glebe. Its tall, almost cubic proportions are due to the comparatively narrow frontage available in St Johns Road between Lodge Street and Mt Vernon Street.

The exterior of the building, is constructed of solid brickwork, and is rendered and lined to resemble stone. The interior is solid plaster. The hall ceilings have lath and plaster coves and timber boarding of alternating pine and red cedar.

Glebe’s history in terms of local government is piecemeal: from 1859 until 1949 it was a separate municipality. When the City of Sydney expanded it took over The Glebe and seven other suburban municipalities. In 1968 the City lost most of the areas it had acquired, and Glebe became a part of Leichhardt Municipality. Glebe was then returned to the City in 2003. The City of Sydney restored and refurbished Glebe Town Hall in 2011 and 2012 and it is now available for use by community groups.