Stawell Town Hall, 63-65 Main Street, STAWELL

The Stawell Town Hall, 63-65 Main Street, Stawell, makes a significant architectural, visual and cultural contribution to the Stawell township. The main (front section) of the building was designed by the Stawell Shire Engineer, John D'Alton, in 1872, with the hall opening in 1873. The rear hall was opened in 1924, while a balcony was opened in 1927 and the landmark clock tower constructed in 1939. Although the building has experienced changes and alterations over the year, with the rendering and overpainting of part of the wall construction most noticeable, the exterior of the building is largely intact. 

The Stawell Town Hall, Main Street, Stawell, is architecturally significant at a LOCAL level. It demonstrates original design qualities of an eclectic Victorian Classical and interwar Art Deco style. These qualities include the five bayed composition of the main (front) section, with its central bay forming an arcuated portico, bank of round arched tripartite windows and projecting window balustrade and small circular balcony above, and rendered urns and the landmark Art Deco clock tower. Other intact qualities include the tower detailing (large incised rectangular panels with triple arched corbelling, Ionic aedicule, cast miners figures, round clock faces, octagonal capping and flagpole), side wings flanking the central bay with open circular and solid parapets, incised parapet panels and cornices, arched timber framed double hung windows, flat headed windows, rectangular stylised pilasters, arched door openings, projecting title panels above the side doors, side elevations of similar Classical composition and detailing as the main facade, brick wall construction (but not overpainting), Grampians Freestone dressings and the rear hall with its red brick construction. 

The Stawell Town Hall is historically significant at a LOCAL level. It is associated with the Borough of Stawell which was created in 1869. It is also associated with the designer, John D'Alton, Shire Engineer for the initial design, architect James Irwin for the hall addition in 1924 and architect H.L. Coburn for the 1939 addition of the clock tower. 

The Stawell Town Hall is socially significant at a LOCAL level. It is recognised and valued by the Stawell community as the location of local government, the setting for many community celebrations and for the landmark clock tower and musical mechanised figures. 

Overall, the Stawell Town Hall is of LOCAL significance.