Larry La Trobe, Melbourne, Guide du visiteur et quoi faire à proximité

Melbourne Town Hall is the grand civic building on the corner of Swanston and Collins Streets in the heart of Melbourne, Australia. Designed by Joseph Reed and opened in 1870, it is topped by the clock tower known as Prince Alfred's Tower. It has been the city's ceremonial centre through fire, rebuilding and famous crowds.

The story behind it

The foundation stone was laid in 1867 by Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh, and the tower still carries his name. Joseph Reed of the firm Reed & Barnes designed the hall, and it opened in 1870 as a statement of how confident and wealthy Melbourne had become.

In 1925 a fire tore through the building and destroyed much of it, including the main auditorium and the pipe organ. The hall was rebuilt and enlarged, and a new organ was installed in 1929. In 1964 the Beatles were welcomed here at a civic reception, and huge crowds of fans filled the streets outside. Like many grand old buildings, it also has a ghost story: staff and visitors tell of a translucent figure in period dress who seems to study the architecture with pride. It is a local legend, not a documented fact, but it fits the building well.

What to look for

• Look up at the corner clock tower, Prince Alfred's Tower, which rises above the junction of Swanston and Collins Streets.
• Study the ornate facade, which reflects the confident civic style of Melbourne in the 1860s.
• Find the balcony above the street and picture the crowds that gathered below when the Beatles visited in 1964.
• Notice how the building looks different at dusk, when the stonework and the clock face stand out against the sky and the legend of the ghostly architect feels easier to believe.

Tips for your visit

• The exterior is free to see at any time. If you want to go inside, check current opening hours and whether tours or events are running.
• Allow 10 to 15 minutes for the outside, longer if you also explore the surrounding streets.
• Dusk is a atmospheric time to visit, and morning is quieter for photographs without crowds on the pavement.
• Many of Melbourne's best-known sights are close by on foot, including St Paul's Cathedral, Flinders Street Station and Federation Square, so it works well as part of a longer walk.

See it on a quest

Ghost Hunt in Melbourne, AU is a good way to see the Town Hall because you reach it on foot as one stop of a longer ghost-themed route through the city. The app tells you about the building as you arrive, and you solve a puzzle on the spot using what is in front of you. There is no guide and no group to join, you can start whenever you like, and one ticket covers the whole group.