It had a flat roof made of "argamasse", a type of mortar developed by the French East India Company by mixing sand, crushed brick, lime, egg whites, curdled milk and fats, so that the roof could be used for drying coffee beans.

The area in front of the building was improved when Jean Milhet de Fontarabie, who had served as mayor of Saint-Paul from 1872 to 1884, decided to pay for a fountain.

The design of the fountain involved four waterspouts, and a cast iron column supporting a vase shaped top.

Essential repairs were carried out after a cyclone caused serious damage to some 60% of all buildings on the island, including the town hall, in 1948.

Internally, a Salle du Conseil (council chamber) was established and a series of small offices created.