Queenscliff Town Hall to see major upgrades

Published on 20 August 2021

Crowds at the 2019 Australia Day Awards in Queenscliff Town Hall

The Queenscliff Music Festival (QMF) and the Borough of Queenscliffe have announced a new partnership to upgrade the Queenscliff Town Hall to become a high-quality creative space. 

The QMF has secured two grants to undertake the first stage of an upgrade to the Hall that will include new sound and lighting systems, a screen and projector, and better marketing for the venue. Combined, these upgrades will allow the Town Hall to support a broader range of performances. The project is being managed under a governance structure that includes Council officers and QMF representatives working together and meeting regularly for several months. QMF Chair Geoff Mutton said he was excited about the potential of the upgrades.

“QMF is very excited to be working with the Borough of Queenscliffe to improve the Town Hall as a creative space for events and activities, and we look forward to presenting regular concerts in the Hall over 2021-2022,” Mr Mutton said.

The project will provide extensive benefits for existing and new users of the Hall including community groups, schools, local creatives, and community events like the Bellarine Lighthouse Film Festival and Queenscliff Literary Festival. Mayor Ross Ebbels said that consultation with community groups helped to guide decisions around the kinds of upgrades that would be made to the Town Hall.

“By reducing equipment hire costs, making the venue easier to set up and pack down, and adding new accessibility equipment like a hearing aid loop, these upgrades directly respond to some of the needs raised by local community groups,” Cr Ebbels said.

Improved facilities are part of Council’s ongoing focus on enhancing the Borough of Queenscliffe’s reputation as a regional arts and culture destination, and will assist in securing new events that could attract hundreds of visitors. As part of the project, the Queenscliff Music Festival has also received grant funding to deliver a series of concerts in the improved Hall beginning late 2021. 

Requests for quotation for key aspects the project are now open, and the QMF are seeking suitably qualified providers to supply and install professional components for the use of QMF, other community groups, and the public. More information is available at qmf.net.au/info/queenscliff-town-hall. Quotations are due by 4pm on the 13th of September.