The Civic Centre

Administration Building

Three buildings have been renovated, and joined by atriums to create a very workable Civic Centre:

The original Town Hall (1866)
The original Port Adelaide Council Chambers (1939)
Recent Council building and old Bank building both (Circa 1939).

Chris Loan, Heritage Architect, has designed the complex, using much of the original architecture, and creating any necessary extensions in keeping with the heritage areas. The sensitive use of wood and lighting creates the feeling of an earlier era, while the modern office fixtures and "up to the minute" technology show a modern and vital local government organisation.

Heritage Council Chamber

The old Council Chamber and offices (1882) have been restored. Some of the original furniture is also still in use.

New Town Hall Area

The southern portion of the Court house was added progressively between 1922 and 1966. This area now houses Members' Rooms and a fully equipped commercial kitchen.

The new Town Hall has been cleverly designed, allowing for division of the Town Hall area into three different areas. High glass panels divide the top sections and hidden walls move in and out to allow either the full floor area, or the divisions. The curved ceiling is myrtle.

Council Chamber(Circa 1882)

Old Port Adelaide Court House - the building is a Heritage Item on the Register of State Heritage items - originally built at a cost of 2,162 pounds. Walls are of Dry Creek bluestone base, with rendered cavity walls above. The new architraves have been painted in wood grain finish to match existing blackwood, and ceilings have been repaired and/or replaced, and all match the original profiles. The skirtings hide the modern technology power points.

The basic design philosophy has been to provide a council facility which allows for flexible use with separate and discrete circulation patterns. It is possible, for example, to have a concurrent use of the Council Chamber and Town Hall without public crossover, using separate main entrances.

The Judges Dais

This area has been retained. The chair was purchased in 1866 at a cost of 150 pounds. It carried the original British Coat of Arms and was presented by Mayor JW Smith. The Port Adelaide Coat of Arms was presented by Mayor AOR Tapp Esq. to commemorate the Centenary celebrations of 1956.