Rousing recital celebrates Wollongong Town Hall revival

By Sarah Allely
Updated November 5 2012 - 6:04pm, first published June 29 2008 - 11:44am
Sydney City organist Robert Ampt performed to a packed audience yesterday at Wollongong Town Hall, which was saved from demolition. Picture: KEN ROBERTSON
Sydney City organist Robert Ampt performed to a packed audience yesterday at Wollongong Town Hall, which was saved from demolition. Picture: KEN ROBERTSON

It was an underground event with no advertising but word spread to ensure Wollongong Town Hall was packed to capacity yesterday afternoon."It's wonderful to have the town hall back," said Sydney City organist Robert Ampt, to deafening applause."When there was an announcement that we had run out of programs, I said to myself, 'I'm not surprised'."Mr Ampt was not the only star of the celebration, which marked the saving of the town hall from demolition.Ron Sharp crafted Wollongong's pipe organ in 1968, and then went on to build the Sydney Opera House version.Mr Sharp travelled from Sydney for the special concert hosted by the National Trust's Illawarra Shoalhaven branch, which fought to save the organ and the hall.The jubilant mood and queues of eager supporters demonstrated the community's passion to restore the building.Wollongong City Council was ready to bring in the bulldozers before it was sacked following the ICAC investigation this year.However, the replacement administrators almost immediately squashed the demolition plans and ordered the hall and organ be preserved.Yesterday, Mr Ampt opened the concert with several versions of God Save the King.He was followed by a former student, whom he taught on the organ during a 10-year stint teaching in Wollongong."It's a beautiful organ. It's not the world's biggest but it sounds beautiful in this hall," Mr Ampt told the Mercury before his performance, as crowds spilled into the hall. "This room is really good for live music. The people have won their town hall back.".He was "horrified" when he heard of the council's plans to demolish the hall."For a regional city like this to have a fine organ like this is very unusual. It's a real treasure," he said. "Look at this crowd! I think people are going to be very stirred emotionally today."

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