Talk:South Melbourne Town Hall

Town Hall Clock

When I lived in South Melbourne circa 1974, the Town Hall Clock's chimes could be heard as far away as Queens Road. The chimes would start (as I remember) at 6:00AM and would cease after 10:00PM, starting again at 6:00AM the next day.

I was told that this was a custom unique to South Melbourne's Town Hall Clock and that the custom was a continuation of a circumstance that had arisen when Dame Nellie Melba had been staying nearby (in, I think, a local hotel) and had been kept awake by the chimes. She imperiously demanded that they were to be silent during those night hours for the duration of her stay. Her request was granted.

The chimes continued to remain silent during those evening hours, as a tribute to her, once she left the City. I am not certain of the veracity of this story as it was told to me by a poorly educated senior citizen (who, btw, referred to "Napier Street" as N'Peeeer Street, rather than Nay-Pee-er Street); however, having lived in South Melbourne all his 85+ years, he was most certain that his story was accurate.

Does anyone else know of the truth or otherwise of this story; and does the clock still chime? If so, I think this sort of historical anecdote would embellish this article. Lindsay658 02:46, 30 August 2007 (UTC)