In 1890 Yorkshire-born architect Joshua Charlesworth won the design competition for a new town hall to be built on the reclamation reserve at the foot of Cuba Street with his Victorian-Municipal inspired design. The foundation stone was laid on 18 June 1901 by King George V, with construction starting a year later.
On Wednesday 7 December 1904, the Wellington Town Hall was officially opened by Mayor Aitken with the official gold and greenstone key. A four day city-wide celebration followed to celebrate the occasion.
The Wellington Town Hall remains a historically significant building to the city and is a fine example of its type. Originally fronted by a Roman styled portico and a 150 foot tall clock tower - these were dismantled in 1934 as a precaution against earthquake - diminishing the scale and presence of the main entry. However today the building remains home to the Wellington Mayor and City Councillors and continues to be the centre from which the city is run alongside the multiple events hosted in the venue.
The building was fully refurbished in 1991-1992, and is an icon for Wellington residents and visitors alike.
