Town Hall is in a central part of Sydney and for tourists, there is a lot to see in and around the area. If you are getting on/off the train at Town Hall Station, the building sits right above the station.
Mostly, it is just a lovely building to take note of as you walk past. In summer the purple jacaranda trees out the front make a nice photo.
Across the road, is the QVB (Queen Victoria Building), built in 1898 to celebrate the Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee and next door is St Andrews, the Anglican Cathedral (1860).
It is a 5 minute walk to Hyde Park in one direction and, in the other direction, a 9-10 minute walk to Darling Harbour.
The Town Hall itself is a grand building in the High Victorian style. It was completed in 1889, just 100 years after the colony was first settled. When finished, it dominated the city skyline and was by far and away, the most imposing and impressive building in the colony.
The most dramatic features are the classical temple-like facade, the wide staircase leading to the front doors and the soaring clock tower. The architects didn’t shy away from excess. They splashed out with lions’ heads, finials, urns and friezes and didn’t hold back on columns or arches either.
Today, the town Hall houses the offices of the Lord Mayor of Sydney and those of elected councillors but it also frequently hosts community events and concerts. For this reason, it is not always open to the public. Although normally you can do tours, I believe that they are currently cancelled due to covid restrictions.