The architectural jewel of Queen Street is Auckland Town Hall. The Edwardian Baroque structure with its 148 foot clock tower served the Auckland City Council from 1911 until 1955. The façade was crafted from Oamaru stone, a white limestone quarried north of Dunedin on the South Island. In addition to the civic offices, the building’s specifications included the Great Hall with a seating capacity for over 1,500 people, the Concert Chamber and the country’s largest pipe organ. The original Norman & Beard organ was replaced in 2010 with the acoustically superior instrument by Orgelbau Klais. After extensive restorations in the 1990s and again in 2007, the landmark has become a prime location for concerts and special events.
