[1] The first settlement in the Toowoomba area was established on the present site of Drayton in 1842, and a mail service commenced in December 1845.

As Toowoomba developed as the leading centre of the Darling Downs and surrounding areas, the prosperity was translated into impressive commercial and residential structures.

[1] Prior to acquiring the site in Ruthven Street, the Council proceeded with a competition, with a prize of 30 guineas, for the design of a new town hall.

Following approval to build a hall, a sub-committee examined the entries and recommended that William Hodgen be awarded first prize.

From 1875 to 1877 he maintained a busy practice in Toowoomba, later claiming to have erected "the majority of the principal buildings" there and in the surrounding district.

[1] Alexander Mayne's tender of £6440 was accepted on 22 November 1899, and on 20 February 1900, the foundation stone was laid by His Excellency Lieutenant-Governor of Queensland, Sir Samuel Griffith.

There were a number of entrances to the gallery including a ground floor lobby and staircase on the northern wall of the building.

On the left hand side...comes the Rate Collector's Office and another for the Town Engineer....the Municipal Chamber...in finish and appointments...is very fine...The ceiling is particularly artistic, being stamped metal and picked out in soft and suitable colours".

Lack of government funding, the growth of local circulation libraries and a diminishing number of subscribers added to the problems.

Space had become available in the City Hall following the relocation of the Technical College to its own building at the corner of Hume and Margaret Streets in 1911.

After Council decided to renovate the theatre and provide space for an art gallery and additional offices, work was undertaken in two stages.

It was an unobtrusive addition and involved the enclosing of the open space between the front section of the building and the theatre on the northern side.

Other work involved remodelling the interior decoration, the installation of a new proscenium, improvements to the ventilation, raising of the roof above the stage and gallery and the fitting of new seats.

[1] Of the original four ornamental pillars used in the external landscape works to City Hall, two were removed and installed at the old Toowoomba Showgrounds in Campbell Street as gates posts in the 1940s.

Carried out under the direction of local architects Durack and Brammer for a cost of more than $300 000, the work included the removal of the main floor and balcony and the construction of a new floor to improve sight lines, new seating which again reduced capacity, refurbished foyer, refreshment facilities, new dressing rooms, and wider stage and improved backstage facilities.

[1] When opened, the council chambers and offices were situated on the ground floor, however, as staff numbers increased, so did the demand for extra space.

[1] The Toowoomba Art Gallery moved out of City Hall in March 1994 into their own premises nearby in the former SWQEB building.

Commencing in 1995, City Hall has undergone major refurbishment by Allom Lovell Marquis Kyle Architects with the exterior of the building being restored to its original state in 1997.

[4] Provisions were made to enable councillors, staff and others to move from City Hall into council offices located in the adjoining Commonwealth Building.

By doing so, this allowed the symbolic seat of local government to return to its original place of residence as the councillors once again meet in City Hall.

[1] The form of the 1900 hall is still reasonably intact with meeting rooms situated at the front of the building and the auditorium at the rear.

[1] The ground floor has three arches to the central section, with rendered rusticated columns and squared Corinthian pilaster decoration.

[1] Bays on the ground level on either side of the central entrance have sash windows surrounded by rendered architraves.

The turning timber staircase, in its original position and adapted with stainless steel handrails to conform to regulation heights, leads to the first level.

The reception area, to the north of the foyer, (which is also accessed via a door in the lobby), includes a strong room which formed part of the original design of the building.

[1] The hall has a fence at the front of the building with non-original cast iron railings and original moulded concrete pillars.

Its generous size and grand character provide evidence of the prosperity and importance of Toowoomba as a major regional centre at the turn of the century.

Toowoomba City Hall is significant as a good and intact example of an early twentieth century civic building in Queensland incorporating eclectic stylistic elements in its design.

The building continues a long association with the people of Toowoomba and surrounding areas as a focal point for social, and community functions.

[1] The place has a special association with the life or work of a particular person, group or organisation of importance in Queensland's history.