One of the grandest surviving buildings in Australia, the 19th century Sydney Town Hall contains the Council Chamber, reception rooms, the Centennial Hall and offices for the Lord Mayor and elected councillors. Sydney Town Hall is a great example of the Victorian/Beaux-Arts from the Second Empire design concepts.

It is the most popular landmark in our city - and the front steps are the best known meeting place in town.

Sydney Town Hall has long hosted major civic, community and cultural celebrations. Our visitors include everyone from rock stars and royalty to school children. Each year, more than 250,000 people come through our doors.

It is also thought to be the only non-religious city building to retain its original function and interiors since it was built more than 130 years ago. The building is listed on the state heritage register.

The building’s history is a turbulent one. After decades of unsuccessful negotiations, the city fathers finally secured a land grant from the Crown in the commercial centre of the city – as far away from colonial Government House in Macquarie Street as possible. The site was the old cemetery next to St Andrew’s Cathedral, which required careful exhumation of bodies that were moved to other cemeteries.

Our tour today will take you to some space not everyone gets to see.