Hobart Town Hall
Macquarie Street


B. 1870 J.W. Walker, London (job no. 905). 3m., 30 sp.st., 5c., tr.
Gt: 16.8.8.8.4.4.2-2/3.2.III.8.4. Sw: 16.8.8.4.2.II.V.8.8. Ch: 8.8.8.4.2.8. Ped: 16.16.8.16.
Reb. & enl. 1929 Geo. Fincham & Sons. Reb. & enl. 1966-67 J.W. Walker & Sons, Ruislip, Middlesex.
3 manuals, 61 speaking stops, 9 couplers, electro-pneumatic action



Photo: MQ

From the 2002 OHTA Conference handbook:

This large building, in a florid Italian Classical style, was designed by Henry Hunter and built in 1864-66 [1].  It is of interest for its symmetrical form and meticulous level of detailing which includes the pediments to the windows of the piano nobile, and a projecting triple-arched portico.  The main hall is located immediately behind the façade.

 

The organ was ordered in March 1868 (job number 905) from J.W. Walker & Sons, London.  In ordering the organ, Mr Packer [the consultant?] stated “I cannot again too strongly impress upon you the necessity of avoiding anything screamy or noisy in tone.  The Hall is a magnificent room for sound and a noisy organ would be a perfect abomination in it”.  The materials used included the best seasoned mahogany or wainscoat oak for the soundboards, tables, upperboards, squares and backfalls, with wrought iron used for the composition pedals and roller boards.  The metal pipework was of the best spotted metal except for the zinc façade pipes [2].  The organ was built under the supervision of Richard Limpus, organist of St Michael’s, Cornhill.  The instrument was installed by George Fincham and opened on 17 March 1870 [3].  With three manuals and 29 speaking stops, the tonal design was practically identical to the Walker instrument now in St Stephen’s Church, Richmond, Melbourne, except for the addition of a Great Clarion, Choir Clarionet and Pedal Violoncello and Trombone, the latter initially prepared for.

 

The instrument was rebuilt in 1929 by George Fincham & Sons, who installed new windchests, console and tubular-pneumatic action and increased the number of stops to 44 [4].  A further rebuild was undertaken in 1966-67 by J.W. Walker & Sons, of Ruislip, Middlesex, who converted the action to electro-pneumatic and added a new stopkey console as well as carrying out far-reaching tonal changes and additions, including a new floating Positive.  The work was carried out under the direction of Arthur Jones and in consultation with the City Organist John Nicholls [5].

 

  

Great
Violone
Open Diapason
Viola
Stopped Diapason
Principal
Harmonic Flute
Twelfth
Fifteenth
Mixture 19.22.26
Trumpet
Clarion

Swell
Open Diapason
Stopped Diapason
Viola da Gamba
Voix Celeste
Principal
Wald Flote
Twelfth
Fifteenth
Piccolo
Mixture 19.22.26.29
Contra Fagotto
Cornopean
Oboe
Clarion
tremulant

Positive
Rohr Flote
Principal
Koppel Flote
Nazard
Block Flote
Tierce
Larigot
Sifflote

Choir
Lieblich Bourdon
Salicional
Concert Flute
Lieblich Gedeckt
Salicet
Octave Flute
Piccolo
Orchestral Oboe
Clarinet
tremulant
Trumpet
Clarion

Pedal
Open Wood
Violone
Bourdon
Lieblich Bourdon
Quint
Octave
Violoncello
Bass Flute
Salicional
Octave Quint
Fifteenth
Octave Flute
Mixture 22.26.29
Trombone
Fagotto
Trumpet
Clarion

16
8
8
8
4
4
2-2/3
2
III
8
4


8
8
8
8
4
4
2-2/3
2
2
IV
16
8
8
4



8
4
4
2-2/3
2
1-3/5
1-1/3
1


16
8
8
8
4
4
2
8
8

8
4


16
16
16
16
10-2/3
8
8
8
8
5-1/3
4
4
III
16
16
8
4
A ex Pedal with new trebles
ex Open No 2
ex Gamba





remodelled
B
C




fincham Viol revoiced
TC






D

D
new


unenclosed - all new










E
F
G
E
F
G
G



B
C


A
H
E
E
I
ex Open No 1
A
H
F
E
I
H
new
part B
D
B
C



compass:  61/32

9 couplers

electro-pneumatic action

detached stopkey console  [6]

 

[1]               Priceless heritage, p.126.

 

[2]               J.W. Walker order book, 1868, pp.156-57.

 

[3]               Re-opening of the organ in the town hall, Hobart, 10th March 1967

 

[4]               Ibid.;  spec. noted D.W. Rankin 1950s.

 

[5]               Re-opening of the organ.

 

[6]               ibid.