Opened in April 1937,[1] the building was designed by architectural firm Peck & Kemter in association with A.C. Leith & Bartlett for the Heidelberg City Council (now Banyule City Council) and was influenced by the Hilversum Town Hall in the Netherlands.

It listed on the Victorian Heritage Register, described as "the greatest and most eloquent expression of the interwar brick Moderne style in Victoria.

[3] Not long after the town hall opened the council engaged Bill Glennon to organise public dances on Wednesday and Saturday nights.

Free buses brought patrons from Melbourne’s Northern suburbs.

[4] The dances were hugely popular, over 2000 people would attend on a Saturday night.