Sandgate Town Hall is a heritage-listed civic building at 5 Brighton Road in the middle of Sandgate, with a clock tower that you can see from the corner of Brighton Road and Seymour Street. It opened in 1912 and is now a community hall owned by Brisbane City Council.
You can’t normally walk in and look around, because the main hall is a hire venue, but the outside is worth a stop on a day at Sandgate, and the library next door is open to everyone.
The history of Sandgate Town Hall
A fire destroyed the old council chambers in 1910, and the town hall was built to replace them. The foundation stone was laid on 14 October 1911 and the hall opened on 21 September 1912. It cost 5,000 pounds, including 300 pounds for furnishing.
The architect was Thomas Ramsay Hall, who was Sandgate’s Town Clerk at the time, and the builder was John Gemmell. The building is listed as a Federation-style civic building and was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 13 January 1995.
Over the years the building has also been used as a school of arts library and as a health clinic. Today the main hall hosts public meetings and community gatherings.
The clock tower
The tower is the feature most people come to see. It stands near the junction of the building’s two wings, so it is easy to photograph from the street. It has three levels, with the clock on the second and the bells on the third.
The four-dial clock was built in England in 1877 and came from the Old Ipswich Town Hall. It was put in the Sandgate tower in 1923 and is reputedly one of the oldest working clocks in Brisbane.
What is inside Sandgate Town Hall
The main hall holds up to 231 standing or 187 seated, with a stage, a piano, a full kitchen and air conditioning. There are also two smaller meeting rooms.
Brisbane City Council runs the hall for hire to community groups, businesses and private functions, so it is busy with meetings, classes and events rather than open for drop-in visits. Hire is booked through the council, and bookings need at least five working days’ notice.
Hall hire is the main use. The council lists three spaces: the main hall and two meeting rooms, which hold about 20 people each. The main hall has a full kitchen, and there is a loading zone at the rear of the building and in front of the library on Seymour Street.
The council library is in the former council chambers and offices, with its entrance on Seymour Street.
Around Sandgate Town Hall
The Sandgate Post Office (1887), the war memorial park and Sandgate railway station are all close to the town hall, so it fits easily into a walk around the centre of Sandgate.
For more of the bayside, Shorncliffe Pier and Lower Moora Park are close by, and the Brisbane suburb of Nundah is along Sandgate Road.
Planning your visit
- How long: 10 to 20 minutes to look at the building and the clock tower; longer if you pair it with the library or the foreshore.
- Cost: free to look from outside. Hall hire fees start at about $27 an hour for community groups.
- Bookable hours: 8 am to 10 pm Sunday to Thursday, and 8 am to midnight Friday and Saturday, for people who have hired a space.
- Accessibility: council lists an accessible front door, an accessible toilet and a hearing loop (infrared) in the main hall. The indoor area is independently accessible but may be difficult to navigate, so you may need help.
- Hiring the hall: the main hall is $26.70 an hour for community use and $38.10 an hour commercial, and weekend functions are $85.50 an hour. Bonds apply. Book through the council’s Sandgate Town Hall page.
Getting there and parking
The hall is at 5 Brighton Road, Sandgate. It is about 20 km by road from the Brisbane CBD, about 30 minutes by car.
There is no on-site parking and on-street parking is limited, so allow a little time to find a spot. Sandgate railway station is nearby. Plan your trip with the Translink Journey Planner or call 13 12 30.
Nearby
- Shorncliffe Pier – fishing, history and a bayside walk.
- Lower Moora Park, Shorncliffe – playground, beach and pier.
- Nundah – village cafes and Sunday markets along Sandgate Road.
Browse more history and landmarks and things to do in Brisbane.
You might also like
- Brisbane City Hall – another clock tower, with tours and a lookout.
- Old Government House – a heritage building in the city.
- Brisbane Arcade – a heritage shopping arcade in the CBD.
- Old Ipswich Court House – another heritage civic building, from Ipswich where the clock came from.
Quick answers
Can you go inside Sandgate Town Hall?
Mostly when you have booked it or are attending an event. It is a council hire hall, so there are no set visiting hours. The library next door is public.
When was Sandgate Town Hall built?
The foundation stone was laid in October 1911 and it opened on 21 September 1912.
Where did the Sandgate Town Hall clock come from?
It came from the Old Ipswich Town Hall. It was built in England in 1877 and installed in 1923.
Is Sandgate Town Hall wheelchair accessible?
The council lists an accessible front door, an accessible toilet and an infrared hearing system in the main hall. It says the indoor area is independently accessible but with some difficulty, so you may need help.
Is there parking at Sandgate Town Hall?
No. There is no on-site parking and on-street parking is limited.
How much does it cost to hire Sandgate Town Hall?
The main hall is $26.70 an hour for community use and $38.10 an hour for commercial use, and weekend functions are $85.50 an hour, plus a bond.
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