In the very centre of Sydney stands an impressive sandstone building - the Sydney Town Hall. Directly opposite this city landmark is the Queen Victoria Building, and not far away is St Andrew's Cathedral. Its location between the bustling Town Hall tube station and the city's business centre has made City Hall a popular meeting place for citizens.
Sydney Town Hall was built in the 1880s on the site of an old cemetery. The late Victorian style building has been described as "a lavishly decorated structure with a central tower and fanciful roof". Today it remains the only non-religious building in Sydney that has retained its original interior and has fulfilled the same function as the City Council Chamber and the Office of the Mayor of Sydney. The main hall, Centenary Hall, there is the world's largest mechanical organ, built between 1886 and 1889 and installed in 1890. Prior to the opening of the Sydney Opera House, it was the venue for the city's main concert. Town Hall was the city's main concert hall, where various events were held.
The steps leading up to the Town Hall have long been a popular meeting place for the of Sydney's residents. However, recently the city administration has taken a number of measures , to restrict gatherings on the steps during the day and also imposed a night guard, due to increased incidents of assaults and defacement of city property graffiti drawings.
Today, Sydney Town Hall is listed as a National Treasure of Australia.
