The building requires significant renewal on key components, including roof replacement and electrical upgrades. It will be quicker, cheaper and easier for these works to be conducted with the site closed rather than working around current use.

The Town Hall will be closed and unavailable after September 2024. We estimate the roof and electrical works will take at least 18 months. This timeframe will be refined when we receive the building program from the builders. We will tender for the works mid-2024.

We will release a tender for the works in mid-2024 and results of the tender will indicate the final budget allocation. We are currently budgeting $1.5 million for the works, with $1 million already included in the current 2023/2024 budget.

Council meetings will take place at the new Council Chambers at 24 Vincent Street, where new, temporary offices will be located. This building will be fully compliant with accessibility requirements.

A library with meeting space, children’s area, art display, computer spaces, and of course, books. The project will also include Assembly Hall upgrades with audio visual, lighting and flexible spaces, to ensure an improved performing arts space.

Community engagements in 2013, 2016 and 2022 clearly identified these facilities as the most important aspects to be upgraded within Daylesford.

From previous community engagements we have learnt that the Daylesford Town Hall is the preferred location for community facilities. This well-loved significant building is an important community asset. Its refurbishment will maximise community use and access of the building and secure its ongoing role as a centrally located site.

A dedicated cinema space is not considered in this project. However, the upgrades of the Assembly Hall will provide a flexible space for the community including for audio visual projections.

Any future upgrades to the swimming pool will be considered separately as part of Council’s Aquatic Strategy. The works at the Town Hall will not impact use of the pool.

We will open expressions of interest to join a Project Advisory Group (PAG) in April 2024. The PAG will be involved throughout the project and represent community needs and views. Council will use its existing channels to keep the community informed (such as newsletters, media, advertising, social media), but will also work with the PAG to update the community on the project.

Broad community engagement on the design will occur twice throughout the design process, should this project progress. This would be at the beginning and end of the concept design stage, before detailed design.

No, the flagpoles will be relocated outside the Council Chambers at 24 Vincent Street, and not replaced at Daylesford Town Hall. This is to protect the building fabric and allow easier raising and lowering of the flags.

Yes, there would be a considerable scope of work required on the building and it would need to be closed while works are underway.