By Laura Michell
The countdown is on to the opening of the revamped Broadmeadows Town Hall, with work to restore the building passing the half-way mark.
Now known as Town Hall Broadmeadows, the iconic building is expected to reopen in spring, following a $23.7 million redevelopment.
Work on the project began in December 2017.
Sections of the 54-year-old building have been demolished and rebuilt and a new roof was installed. The hall’s original dance floor has been retained, while a glass office building has been constructed alongside the town hall.
Once complete, the town hall will include a functions and events space, art gallery, and a business co-working space, known as StartNorth.
Hume mayor Carly Moore said the town hall had a special place in the heart of many locals who had fond memories of the building.
The hall opened in November 1964, with a week-long arts festival. The hall cost about £450,000 to build, with the work taking 14 months.
The hall hosted a range of memorable events over the years including ACDC concerts in March and April 1975, as well as debutante balls, festivals, weddings and car shows.
In 2002, the draft Broadmeadows Transit City Masterplan proposed that the hall be demolished as it had fallen out of use due to the age of the building.
However, in 2004 it was announced that the hall would be saved.
The council began community consultation for the redevelopment in 2014, with a design for the revamped town hall released in 2016.
“So many local residents have celebrated significant life events or created special memories in the Broadmeadows Town Hall. When the time came for Hume City Council to consider the future of the venue, this nostalgia and community connection drove our desire to rejuvenate the iconic building,” Cr Moore said.
