Hamer Hall, formerly the Melbourne Concert Hall, is an Australian concert hall. The 2,466-seat hall, the largest indoor venue at the Arts Centre Melbourne, is mostly used for orchestral and contemporary music performances. It was designed by Roy Grounds as part of the cultural centre which comprised the National Gallery of Victoria and the Arts Centre Melbourne.[1][2] It was opened as the Melbourne Concert Hall in 1982 (the theatres building opened in 1984) and was renamed Hamer Hall in honour of Sir Rupert Hamer (the 39th Premier of Victoria) shortly after his death in 2004.[3]
| Hamer Hall | |
|---|---|
 Interior from back of the stage | |
 | |
| Former names | Melbourne Concert Hall |
| General information | |
| Type | Concert hall |
| Location | Southbank, Victoria, Australia |
| Coordinates | 37°49′13″S 144°58′6″E / 37.82028°S 144.96833°E |
| Construction started | 1973 |
| Completed | 1982 |
| Owner | Victorian Arts Centre Trust |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect(s) | Roy Grounds and Company |
| Other designers | John Truscott |
| Main contractor | Baulderstone |
| Other information | |
| Seating capacity | 2,466 |
| Website | |
| Arts Centre Melbourne | |
2010 redevelopment edit
Construction on the A$136 million inside–out redevelopment of Hamer Hall was due to begin in 2010.[4] The venue's redevelopment was the first stage of the Southbank Cultural Precinct Redevelopment and was delivered through an alliance between Arts Victoria, Major Projects Victoria, the Arts Centre, Ashton Raggatt McDougall and Baulderstone. The redevelopment included a new outlook to the city and new connections to central Melbourne, St Kilda Road and the Yarra River, new and expanded foyer spaces, improved amenities, new stairs, improved disability access, escalators and lifts as well as improved acoustics, new auditorium seating and staging systems.[5]
The hall was reopened on 26 July 2012 with a Hamer Hall Opening Concert, featuring Caroline O'Connor,[6] k.d. lang, Eddie Perfect and Lior with live orchestra. The project later won the AIA Melbourne Prize for the architects Ashton Raggatt McDougall for its overall contribution to the civic life of Melbourne.
Awards and nominations edit
Music Victoria Awards edit
The Music Victoria Awards are an annual awards night celebrating Victorian music. They commenced in 2006. The award for Best Venue was introduced in 2016.
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Music Victoria Awards of 2018 | Hamer Hall, Melbourne | Best Venue (Over 500 Capacity) | Nominated | [7][8] |
| Music Victoria Awards of 2019 | Hamer Hall, Melbourne | Best Venue (Over 500 Capacity) | Nominated | |
| Music Victoria Awards of 2020 | Hamer Hall, Melbourne | Best Venue (Over 500 Capacity) | Nominated | |
| 2021 Music Victoria Awards | Hamer Hall, Melbourne | Best Venue (Over 500 Capacity) | Nominated | [9][10] |
See also edit
- Donald Laycock, Australian artist who painted the interior of Hamer Hall
- Melbourne Prize
References edit
- ^ "Our history | Arts Centre Melbourne". www.artscentremelbourne.com.au. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
- ^ Staff writer (17 November 2021). "From the Archives, 1963: A Concert Hall for Melbourne's Arts Centre". The Age. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
- ^ Gill, Raymond (13 July 2012). "It's showtime at Hamer Hall". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
- ^ "New Meyer Sound CAL Anchors Voice Announcement System at Melbourne's Hamer Hall". Meyer Sound. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
- ^ Arts Centre Melbourne website.
- ^ (26 July 2012). Caroline O’Connor – Official Opening, Hamer Hall, Melbourne, YouTube. (Melbourne, Australia)
- ^ "Previous Nominess". Music Victoria. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
- ^ "Previous Winners". Music Victoria. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
- ^ "Music Victoria Awards Reveals Line-up And Nominees for 2021". Noise11. 11 November 2021. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
- ^ "Music Victoria Awards 2021 Winners". scenestr.com.au. 9 December 2021. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
