Hamer Hall Celebrates 30th Birthday Today, November 4

Hot-on-the-heels of the triumphant re-opening of Hamer Hall is the esteemed auditorium's 30th Birthday, which will be celebrated with a cake cutting and performance by Eddie Perfect and Tripod who will perform a song from their upcoming Arts Centre Melbourne presents show Perfect Tripod: Australian Songs at 12.30pm today, November 4.

Victorians who did not get an opportunity to experience the venue in July, are invited to come and enjoy a range of free tours, talks and free entertainment from 11am–2pm today, 4 November.

The public will also have the opportunity to enjoy Arts Centre Melbourne's new food and beverage offering, with Lamb burgers available from a food marquee and drinks from a beverage marquee at Arts Centre Melbourne's Sunday Market.

Arts Centre Melbourne Chief Executive Judith Isherwood said, "We're throwing open the doors once again to mark the date back in 1982 when the completion of this concert hall heralded the arrival of Victoria's long-awaited home for the performing arts. Thirty years down the track, Hamer Hall is looking absolutely fabulous and if you haven't had a chance to come and see it – or you missed seeing something because of the huge opening crowds – come and have a look. And if you've always dreamed of taking a bow on the Hamer Hall stage, now's the time to come and do it!"

Since its opening on 6 November 1982, the Melbourne Concert Hall has immediately occupied a central position in the musical life of Australia. Renamed Hamer Hall on 21 April 2004 in honour of former Premier Sir Rupert Hamer, it has staged some of the finest musicians and performers from across the world.

It has been home to Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Australian Chamber Orchestra and Musica Viva. Among the stars to grace the Hamer Hall stage have Dame Joan Sutherland, Luciano Pavarotti, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, John Williams, Shirley Bassey, Norah Jones, Harlem Gospel Choir, Joe Cocker, Paul Kelly, k.d. lang, Elton John, Sting, Julio Iglesias, Tina Arena, Czech Philharmonic, Bill Bailey and more.

Since Hamer Hall re-opened three months ago, more than 86,000 people have attended ticketed events and to date this year more than 160,000 tickets have been sold to 76 events.

Take A Tour – and a Bow!

To showcase Hamer Hall's new interiors, there will be free tours every 15 minutes from 11am–2pm from the Concierge Desk in Hamer Hall's St Kilda Road Foyer, with the last tour leaving at 1:30pm. Explore the redeveloped and public and backstage areas, including artworks, points of interest and changes made, and step onto the stage of this 2,460-seat auditorium and take a bow!

Free Foyer Talks

Two free foyer talks in the Melbourne Room will illuminate the original construction of Hamer Hall, together with its recent two-year redevelopment.

At 11:30am Vicki Fairfax, author of historical book A Place Across The River, will re-tell the fascinating stories of the behind-the-scenes characters who created and constructed Hamer Hall.

At 1pm Ian McDougall, lead architect of the re-development and co-founder of Ashton Raggatt McDougall, will discuss the triumphs and challenges of his work complementing an original design and enhancing its existing features.

30th Birthday Photo Album

An outstanding building like Hamer Hall lends itself to outstanding creative photography. For the 30th Birthday Open Day, visitors are invited to get creative and join in the fun. Come to Hamer Hall for the Open Day and get your camera in action. Photograph what you like about Hamer Hall, what it means to you or your favourite part of the building. It could be architectural or simply friends and family having a great time. The possibilities are endless. You're in charge.

The best photograph will win two tickets to a performance of the internationally acclaimed War Horse, which opens at Arts Centre Melbourne on December 31.