Initially, the construction of the town hall (colloquially Called "Tondal" in the 19th century) could not be completed because of the lack of funds; only the library and museum were built after raising an amount of Rs.10,000 through a lottery conducted by the 'Literary Society of Bombay' (Mumbai).

The entire construction was made of stones brought from England and was designed in a Neo-classical fashion.

[4] There is also a flagpole on the building on which the Indian National Flag is hoisted on the 15th of August and 26th of January, every year.

Sir John Malcolm, Governor of Mumbai in 1930 said, "It is the most magnificent structure that taste and munificence combined have as yet erected in India".

[3] There are many ancient manuscripts in Persian, Prakrit, Urdu and Sanskrit along with other treasures preserved in the hall.