[3]: 244  On 29 November 1910, the Town Hall's corner stone was laid by Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn on land previously known as Market Square.

[5] After the 1994 South African elections, the Gauteng Provincial Legislature moved from Pretoria to Johannesburg and on 21 October 1995 the City Hall would become its new home.

: 248 Sixty metres from the main entrance on Rissik Street is a small stone paved square originally with flower boxes.

[3]: 248  During the Civic Spine project of 1989–91, Rissik Street between the City Hall and The Post Office was bent in front of the square to accommodate a fountain and obelisks in the centre of the road.

[3]: 241  Granite steps lead up to the entrance consisting of a colonnaded portico along the full front of the building and with a central domed tower above.

[3]: 249  On the ground floor below the council chamber was the Rates Hall which was accessed from the north and south sides of the building in President and Market Streets.

[3]: 249 The western entrance in President Street faces the now renamed Beyers Naude Square with the Johannesburg City Library beyond that.

[8] The external walls are brick but clad in sawn border stone from the Free State called Flatpan Freestone.