The City Hall, as shown on the front cover, was built between 1858 and 1861 from the designs of Mr Robert Archibald, who became the first Town Engineer when Port Elizabeth was granted Borough status in 1860. The porch was added in 1865 and the clock tower in 1883.
The City Hall served as a Council Chamber as well as a concert hall, a lecture hall and offices for city council employees (NM 1973). The building was gutted by fire in 1977 and many valuable paintings were lost in the blaze. These included a portrait of Elizabeth Donkin and paintings of early Port Elizabeth. The newly-restored City Hall was re-opened at a special ceremony on 19 November 1981 by the Administrator of the Cape, Mr. Gene Louw.
