Brisbane 2 of 4

We decided to take a guided tour of City Hall, expecting a how-hum experience but instead we learnt so much about this building that we are in awe of its designers and builders. We entered the main foyer and were bedazzled by its spaciousness, its huge twin marble staircases built from white marble imported from Italy. The architectural style is typical of the art-deco designs of the 1920's with the black and white colours of employed in ancient Greek and Roman public buildings. Marble is the main material used in the foyer where the extremely tall rectangular columns have been constructed from grained marble which has fossilised insects within its pattern formation. Pink marble from Chilligoe in NW Queensland and black marble from Pompeii have also been used extensively. Even the ceiling has been decorated in an art-deco geometric-pattern carved in pure glistening white marble which is enhanced by enormous black metal and glass chandeliers which light up this beautiful foyer.

We were in awe of this beautiful space and totally 'blown away" with the black and white fish-tail pattern, inlay-designed marble floor covering, created by hand-cut and hand-laid white marble chips. In the centre of this foyer floor is a black and white Greco-designed circular patterned centre-piece, painstakingly crafted by artisans of the past. What a wonderfully preserved piece of history is preserved in this building for generations to enjoy and admire in the future. Brisbane council is to be congratulated for this buildings restoration and perseveration from the demolition ball.

We continued on our tour and entered a central auditorium expecting to see something like Sydney's Town Hall auditorium where I graduated 50+ years ago. We were amazed at what we saw. The auditorium is circular in design like the Pantheon of Rome. It is situated in the centre of the whole building and is surrounded by a circular corridor. It has a central domed ceiling which was recently covered in 21^st century acoustic material which makes it an excellent venue for both pop and classical concerts, school formals and graduations, weddings, citizenship ceremonies, comedians and other entertainers. We sat in the plush seats of the upper floor, looking down upon the beautiful oval floor space and stage area. Both the stage and floor areas are covered in a mixture of blue gum and mahogany floorboards which look as new as the day it was laid. Behind the stage stands a 4300 pipe organ, built in 1891 and relocated to City hall in 1930.

It would have been wonderful to have heard it played today but there are only a few people who have the skill to do this.