ST PATRICK'S HALL
10 DAWSON STREET, BALLARAT CENTRAL, BALLARAT CITY
Sturt Street Precinct
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Statement of Significance
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ST PATRICK'S HALL - Physical Description 1
This brick building of Gothic character was designed in 1900 by Clegg; Kell and Miller, architects, and is interesting for its steep and long proportions and intersecting gable and hipped roof lines. Internally the hall resembles many town halls but for the Gothic windows in two levels. The plaster ceiling is. coffered by intersecting beams, and curves down deeply at the sides so that the upper windows are curved in as pointed vaults. Near the rear of the hall is an interesting open work iron bell tower, apparently of a later date. The hall is of special merit because of the internal ceiling which has fee peers in the state, particularly' in this type of building. The external crested ridging and the adjacent bell to there are also of note. The building is an important element in the St. Patrick's Cathedral complex as well as in the environmental area.
ST PATRICK'S HALL - Intactness
INTACTNESS: substantially intact
ST PATRICK'S HALL - Physical Description 2
This brick, building designed by Clegg, Kell and Miller in 1900, is of Gothic character, steep and long proportions, and a rather extraordinary appearance, with the main hall block narrowing down into a slightly lower front section which contains ancillary rooms. . The hall proper has a large hipped roof intersected on each side by four gabled roofs running at right angles, while the front ridge has a single larger cross-ridge, and both of these front ridges with a very nice deep ornamental ridge cresting.
Internally the hall resembles many town halls in appearance, but for the Gothic windows in two levels. The plaster ceiling is coffered by intersecting beams into nine bays along the length by four in the width, with the 'central three by two bays omitted for the skylight. The ceiling curves down deeply at the sides so that the upper windows are carried in as pointed vaults to intersect the curved section in a simple grained junction. The ceiling beams are carried down the curve and Ultimately supported on corbels from the wall. Each beam intersection is decorated with a turned and curved pendant boss, the coffers themselves have relief decoration in multiple Tudor panelling with rosettes at the intersections, and the skylight rises in a curved profile from the central six bays. The wall treatment is less elaborate and the lower range of openings is square headed, with only a blind Gothic arch head formed above. Along each long side are about eight ventilators of essentially Dr.Arnott's coalscuttle type, but rather elaborately treated with a pair of slightly Gothicising standards at either side and a curve-fronted lid which opens forwards. Attached to the side of the building is a smaller hall, all lined in timber and quite plain but for raking sides to 'the ceiling; a large kitchen of modern date is attached to one end.
Near the rear of the hall is openwork: iron bell tooler, apparently of a later period, that nevertheless is of particular interest. It is framed in steel angles and braced in each bay with criss-cross rods and a circular ornamental boss at the intersection; rather after the fashion of the fences of Francis Norton. The corners of the tower slope inwards and then turn into a straight rise at the top, and the great bell is intact with the huge wheel over which the rope passes. The tower is completed with a pyramidal roof capped with an ornamental 'metal cross.
The hall is generally intact internally and externally. The hall is of special merit because of the internal ceiling which has few peers in the state, particularly for this type of building. The crested ridging on the exterior and the adjacent bell tower are also of note. The building forms an important part of the Cathedral complex, as well as the environmental area.
Heritage Study and Grading
Ballarat - Ballarat Conservation Study
Author: Jacobs Lewis Vines Architects
Year: 1978
Grading:
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