Frere Hall Karachi (198' x 17')
The Frere Hall is the most notable building in Karachi. The hall was constructed in 1863, to commemorate the long and brilliant administration of Sir Bartle Frere when he was called to the viceroy’s Council in 1859. A sum of Rs. 22,500 was raised by subscription and the design of the building was prepared by Lieutenant Colonel St. Clair Wilson. The hall is in the Venetian Gothic style with an octagonal tower crowned with an iron cage and an acute roof spire let. It is built of the familiar yellowish Karachi limestone, relieved very effectively by white colite quarried near Bholari south of Kotri and red sandstones from jungshahi. The columns and arches of the wide verandahs are exceedingly graceful and the whole detail pleasing. The apex of the spire let is 144 feet above ground level. From the perch on to east side a double staircase leads up directly to a fine hall in the upper storey, which is 70 feet long by 35 in width and 38 in height. It has wide verandahs on its two sides and opens at the north and by an arch. On the ground floor, there is a main hall equal to the one above.
