Victorian Trades Hall Council

The first council chamber at Victoria’s Trades Hall in Melbourne – now known as the Old Council Chamber – seated up to 127 members on tiered platforms arranged around the room. It officially opened on Friday 7th March 1884, and is located in the space previously used for the Friendly Society meetings in the oldest part of the Trades Hall (completed 10 years earlier).

In 2019, Prestigious Painting and Decorating Services was proudly part of the team (Mulholland Restoration and Decorating) selected to restore the chamber to its spectacular mid 1880’s splendour, as part of the first phase of ongoing conservation and upgrade works to the Old Council Chamber. Prior to the commencement of repainting, paper was laid on the walls to create a separation between the original fabric and new works. The walls, from skirting to chair rail, cornices and main ceiling were repainted; and the ceiling roses were recoloured, following microscopic investigation.