At the same time as Southport visitors were enjoying the amenity of the, um, amenities, Brisbane architects TR Hall and Phillips were busy making sure that the seaside township had a suitable public building.Located on the corner of Nerang and Davenport Streets, about two blocks away from the Southport Bathing Pavilions, The Southport Town Council building (built between 1934-35) is a delightful example of up-to-the minute modern Art Deco design - just the thing for such a young, go-ahead area.
And such a young, go-ahead area, Southport is, it's somewhat ironic that today this building is one of the oldest still standing in Southport.The only thing which has changed is an alteration to the exterior paint colour. The architectural mouldings are today picked out in shades of blue.
Hall and Phillips were responsible for a number of public buildings between the Wars and just into the post-War period including the Mater Hospital in Brisbane, Gayndah Shire Hall, the Dalby Town Council Chambers.
But alas, unlike the buildings mentioned, Hall and Phillips Architects didn't stand the test of time and it would seem the company, founded by Thomas Ramsay Hall (1873-1950) didn't survive his death.
Interest in architecture was no doubt instilled by father John Hall, as both TR and his older step brother Francis Richard Hall both stepped into the industry.
Both sons also died of cardio-vascular disease, quite possibly something else they inherited from their father.
But back to the Southport Town Hall, which was opened on 2 August, 1935 with all the fanfare one might imagine on such a grand occasion - even attended by William Forgan Smith the Premier of Queensland and possibly the entire resident population of Southport judging by this picture.According to the catalogue information provided by Picture Australia the opening seemed to be somewhat of a laid back affair:
The picture shows the Premier addressing the crowd with his hands resting casually in the pockets of a light coloured overcoat. Standing with the Premier are the council's finance committee chairman, Ald W Waters, Deputy Mayor, Alderman J W Proud, Town clerk, R B Lather, areas MHR Mr Jas Francis and Mr T Nimmo MLA.
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T R Hall was born 1879 and died 1950. Frank Richard was his half brother, not step brother. Tom Hall was a cadet for the works department and was heavily influenced by Robin Dods who was in partnership with Frank. T R Hall was Town Clerk of Sandgate in 1907 where he had grown up. His mother ran Villa Marina Boarding House and one of his first projects was designing an extension (Belair, next door) for his mother in 1902. T R Hall designed the new Town Hall in Sandgate and went on to form Hall & Prentice Architects. prentice was also a Sandgate local. Tom went on to marry Emma Lingley (Seaview Hotel, Shorncliffe) and they moved to Southport around 1922 living at Niardia on Marine Parade. T R Hall took all that he had learned from seaside Sandgate to Southport and was involved in many early business ventures in the area.
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