Richmond Town Hall

Architect/s: Rudolph Koch (1908)

Richmond’s first public hall was built in 1877 by adding to the extant Richmond Watch House (1838).

The new Town Hall, built in 1908 was designed by Hobart architect William Rudolph Waldemar Koch, known as Rudolph Koch. Son of architect John Augustus Koch of Melbourne, Koch came to Tasmania in 1898. He also designed the Hobart Teachers’ College (Philip Smith Hall, 1909) and the AG Webster building in Liverpool Street Hobart.

Built by Thomas Cuthbertson, work began on the current hall in June 1908 and was finished within five months. Stone for the new hall came from the demolished Richmond Police Barracks (ca 1826) and James Kestall Buscombe’s 1827 tower windmill which, “with its great arms, for so long a landmark in the district, was pulled down”. The Hall was opened in December 1908, and was praised for its excellent acoustics, spacious stage and well decorated proscenium. The first entertainment in the new hall was a ball where “dancing was kept up well into the morning”.

Open: Saturday 24 & Sunday 25 February, 10 am – 4 pm

Open House Richmond Experience: Don’t miss out on the Richmond Bicentenary Music Event, ‘Postcards’ by Tasmanian Heritage Fiddle Ensemble, held in the Hall on Saturday 24th from 7.30pm–8.30pm. Also take a look at the weekly local market on Sunday 25 February.