 On 7 June 1876, Councillor E. H. Higham suggested that the Council should approach the Colonial Secretary to have a government reserve, on the corner of South Terrace and Essex Street, set aside to build a town hall.The use of the site was approved by the state governor, Sir William Robinson, who offered convict labour for the construction as well as free design and specification preparation by the government engineer, and promised to seek a liberal grant from the Legislative Council for the construction project.The government engineer drafted plans that are no longer extant.