The construction of Newcastle's Town Hall started in 1897, to commemorate the sixtieth Jubilee of Queen Victoria, but was only completed two years later in 1899. The official opening of the building took place in 1899, and was officiated by the then mayor of the town, Councillor JG Kemp.In 1901 a clock was installed, made possible by donations gathered from the town's folk.

During the second Boer War, the building was filled with looted furniture which was about to be destroyed, until British commander in Chief General Redvers Buller arrived and put a stop to it. Other memorable moments in the history of the building include the story of the touring orchestra which made its way to the town from Durban, and was disrupted by what sounded like an audience member snoring. The conductor, feeling rather offended set out into the crowd to find the offender, and after some searching, it was revealed that an owl had made its home in the clock tower. The owl was evicted and the concert continued, much to the delight of the conductor.

The stately old building which stands in Newcastle's Scott Street has since been declared a national monument, and the magnificently restored old sandstone building with its stained glass windows and attractive clock tower is still in use as a concert venue, and houses the offices of the Newcastle Publicity Association. Located in front of the Town Hall is a marble monument dedicated to the men of the Newcastle Mounted Rifles regiment that fell during the Anglo Zulu War, most of which lost their lives at the Battle of Isandlwana.