Maitland Town Hall’s auditorium will be transformed into a theatrical space capable of housing productions and musical entertainment after the state government gave a commitment of $2 million.
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The project is one of eight in the Hunter region worth $48.6 million that Planning and Infrastructure Minister Brad Hazzard will announce in Newcastle on Friday.
Heritage Minister and Maitland MP Robyn Parker said the project was necessary to help the town hall become part of the civic and cultural hub that Maitland City Council intends to develop within the city.
She was proud the funding had been secured.
“This refurbishment will see the significant upgrade of performance space in central Maitland,” she said.
“It will bring it up to modern standards and support the regional arts industry as part of council’s broader upgrade of the civic precinct,” Ms Parker said.
The council submitted an application for funding after there was a call for projects.
The fund’s advisory board looked at all the projects and made recommendations to the government.
Ms Parker said the council would also allocate money for the refurbishment.
“I understand the council has prepared a conservation management plan for the town hall and will be investing additional funds on other aspects of the refurbishment of the building,” she said.
Ms Parker said the fund, which was a pre-election commitment, had provided money for several projects in Maitland including the $45 million upgrade to the city’s two major roundabouts and the upgrade to Maitland Hospital’s mental health unit.
The foundation stone of the town hall was laid 125 years ago on January 26.
After it was laid the West Maitland Municipal Council put out an advertisement for suitable designs and offered 70 pounds for the first prize.
The competition attracted 35 entries and the winners were architects James Warren Scobie and Arthur Lee from Oakhampton who operated as a firm.
Scobie did the work exclusively and was 25 when he prepared the designs.