Most people in Inverell know the Inverell Town Hall is undergoing renovation and some have seen the plans.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
Few have had the chance to see how it’s taking shape. What is happening inside will be a transformation.
Tim Russell, director of Dominico Blue Building, the company behind the project has a light in his eyes when he talks about the hall.
The task at hand is a big one but he loves old buildings.
He is addressing the raft of local needs, maximising usage potential as well as enriching the space with the grandeur and originality of its age all the while keeping close to his budget.
There will be wheelchair access directly into main entrance. Patrons will find a deco-style ticket window when they walk the doors. The gallery will now be accessed from inside.
One major change already is the bespoke foyer to give patrons a space to meet and visit without disrupting a performance.
Tim’s plans for the foyer include recessed neon lighting to give a soft glow and photos featuring historic Inverell including the old Capitol Theatre.
The toilets are getting a period-style facelift with some surprises to come in the new tiling.
The main floor will have retractable terraced seating. It also means the floor can be cleared for dances or tables and set-up of seating will be as easy as a flip of a switch. The gallery will have new seating to match.
Another new feature is the completed stage extension and discreet entries to the stage from the corridors. The grand piano will have a permanent home in the wings.
Heavy equipment will become much easier to negotiate with the installation of a lift off stage left, allowing allow access to the stage level as well as second and third levels.
A new wall is installed backstage so passage back and forth will be invisible.
Climate control is a big consideration for the hall. Reverse-cycle air conditioning and heating will be installed and drapes at the archways along the hall and the new foyer will reduce drafts and increase sound retention.
One large concern for many performers has been the hall’s acoustics.
After consultation with an acoustical engineer, panels will now be installed above the stage to help upstage performers hear themselves and sound-reflective panels will also be installed at the back of the gallery to aid in projection.
For the main hall, pyramid diffuser panels on the ceiling will scatter sounds throughout the space.
Other new additions include a candy counter and fully refitted kitchen. New access points will allow patrons in the annex and gallery to find hall amenities without disturbing perform-ances or having go outdoors and re-enter the building.
Tim has uncovered some original paint colours during the process and they will influence the final presentation of the hall.
If anybody is interested in a preview, the Inverell Eisteddfod in late August is scheduled to happen in the hall in the midst of the renovation period when the crew will clear out for a week.
The Town Hall project is due for completion by the end of this year.
![RENOVATION: The view from the stage, which has been extended out making it bigger (below). RENOVATION: The view from the stage, which has been extended out making it bigger (below).](/images/transform/v1/resize/frm/storypad-JV4n4a6iwKJ9DNUAb9ehsn/07966720-683d-41fa-a8d3-cf39f7c06e68.jpg/w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)