After detailed planning and a $17.9million, 16 month renovation, the people of Boroondara in Melbourne’s inner east recently celebrated the official opening of the Hawthorn Arts Centre.
More than 2,750 people took part in a range of events.
Boroondara Mayor Coral Ross said the response from locals and those who had travelled to make use of the cutting edge arts and culture facility had been overwhelmingly positive.
“The renovation of the former Hawthorn Town Hall has transformed the grand dame of Hawthorn into Melbourne’s leading lady of the arts.”
An expert panel provided input on the new facility’s look, feel and functionality, and this information informed architects Peddle Thorp in their design.
The redevelopment successfully enhanced the original Second Empire architectural heritage of the former town hall while also providing a flexible, high quality contemporary facility.
“Council believes a facility of this standard will attract leading artists and performers to Boroondara, while also providing a professional and accessible space for emerging artists,” Councillor Ross said.
“The Hawthorn Arts Centre is also very much a facility for the local community, who can hire it for social functions, community events and business conferences.”
At the opening cocktail party, attended by 400 invited guests, the expanded Town Hall Gallery launched its first exhibition Marker: 10 years of the Town Hall Gallery Collection, along with a publication, featuring essays and images of several of the exhibition artworks.
The first exhibition on the Community Project Wall was also unveiled. Entitled Celebrate, the exhibition by intellectually disabled artists celebrates the best of Melbourne.
An exciting collaboration was created for the centre’s opening concert Off the chart. Ryan Ritchie and Tamil Rogeon from The Raah Project, The Impossible Orchestra conducted by Brett Kelly, the Royal Melbourne Philharmonic Choir, operatic soprano Jacqueline Porter and soul singer Kylie Auldist, entertained a 300-strong audience, combining the classical with contemporary genres including jazz and rap.
But the biggest celebration took place on Sunday 24 November when the new centre opened its doors for the Let’s Get Started Open Day, with 1,800 visitors participating in a range of workshops and free performances.
“The hard work of the City of Boroondara’s staff, the input of the local community and industry experts, a $500,000 Victorian Government Community Support Grant, as well as the architectural excellence of Peddle Thorp have combined to successfully transform a much-loved Melbourne icon into a thriving centre for the arts, culture and the community.”
