1. The hall’s timber floor is made from kiln-dried mountain ash that is one and a quarter inches thick. 

The thickness varies in different places due to 77 years of dancing and events in the hall. The floor has been lightly sanded and polished as a part of the refurbishment.        

2. The Horsham Town Council coat of arms on the floor in the art gallery entrance has been restored to its original condition. 

The terrazzo contains the motto ‘labor omnia vincit’, which translates to ‘work overcomes all’.

3. The hall’s fly tower is used to raise and lower curtains, scenery, objects, and people. 

It contains a series of cables, pulleys and counterweights that are manually operated. The fly tower allows crew members to change a scenery backdrop in six seconds, quicker and quieter than a winch system. In the hall’s early days, sailors used to operate the system. They would whistle a code to signal when to raise and lower objects.

4. A mayor and mayoress suite previously formed part of the art gallery’s second floor. 

Large Queensland walnut wood panels that were part of a dividing door in the suite have been reused as a feature in the main gallery foyer opposite the Handbury education centre.

5. The site of the first town hall in Wilson Street was previously where the Shamrock Hotel stood. 

The Horsham Shire offices were opened in June 1886.

6. The original town hall auditorium was built in March 1911 at the rear of the shire offices to provide a venue for drama, music and other entertainment.

7. The hall had served the community well but, in 1937, a council report about the condition of the building showed it was unsafe.

The shifting Wimmera soils had caused structural problems. Council decided to build a new hall, and May Park was mooted as a potential site.

8. Wilson Street was selected for the new hall site. 

On May 29, 1939, Horsham Mayor Len Bowden opened the hall. His opening speech was broadcast live on radio. He said, “I hope you will all come to regard the new town hall as an integral part of life in Horsham.”

9. The town hall auditorium has been repainted in its original heritage colours as part of the refurbishment.

The process to identify the colours involved cutting a small sample off the surface and using a binocular microscope to reveal the colours. The individual layers of paint were matched to the Munsell colour system to identify the exact colours. The system specifies colours based on hue, value, and chroma. More than 20 colours were used in the restoration works.

10. The original town hall curtain is still in place with a new valance across the top to complement the repainted proscenium arch with gold leaf trim. 

The gold leaf is produced in wafer thin short strips and was delicately pressed into position by tradesmen.

11. ‘Stage right’ is to the right of the performers on the stage.

Stage right is also known as ‘OP’ or ‘opposite prompt’. The prompt side is traditionally where someone prompts or cues actors with lines and-or movements.

12. The balcony seats in the town hall are on the list for future refurbishment. 

The original colour was a blue-green. The balcony used to contain a projection room where people could show photos.

13. On December 11, 1974, Skyhooks performed at the town hall, supported by Captain Matchbox.

On January 11, 1977, AC/DC performed there.

14. The new hall theatre has a hearing loop. 

People with hearing difficulties can borrow a set of earphones from the box office to hear shows more clearly.

15. Natimuk Men’s Shed members refurbishes the wall lights in the town hall auditorium. 

Layers of paint had to be removed without any scratching or polishing.

16. The hall’s grand piano will move to a temperature-controlled room at the side of the theatre stage.

17. Seats can be removed in the new theatre to accommodate more wheelchair positions. 

Seats can also be removed from the seating pit at the front of the stage to accommodate musicians for productions, such as a small orchestra or band.

18. The new theatre, including the back of the stage, technician’s booth, side stage, and the five dressing rooms, is wired with both sound and video feeds so performers and staff will be able to hear and see shows from wherever they are.

19. More than 1000 drawings were produced for the refurbishment’s steelwork.

Late last year, more than 60 tradesmen were working at the site each day, many of them Wimmera people.

20. The timber seats at the Pynsent Street entrance to the hall are made from recovered redgum. 

They were built from a beam that used to span a bridge near Echuca.