Victorian Intercolonial Exhibition


The Victorian Intercolonial Exhibition world's fair
was held in Melbourne, Colony of Victoria between 2 September and 16 November 1875.

Commission

The original commission comprised Sir Redmond Barry, acting chief justice; members of the Victorian Legislative Assembly : J. J. Casey, J. F. Sullivan, C. J. Jennor, J. Munro; James Gatehouse ; the former mayor J. McIlwraith; and J. I. Bleasdale.
And later the following became additional commissioners: John O'Shanassy ; James McCulloch, J. A. Macpherson, J.T. Smith, J. Bosisto ; S.H. Bindon; the Count de Castelnau; L.J. Sherrard; and J. Danks.
G. C. Levey who had experience with the Victorian Exhibition of 1872, and the London International and Vienna Exhibitions of 1873 was appointed secretary.

Location

The exhibition was held in the Public Library along with a specially constructed 190ft by 60ft iron and wood building.

Contributors

There were exhibitors from the colonies of Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania and Northern Territory, along with Singapore and Japan.

Displays

Displays included two beer exhibits from Yarra Bend Asylum, three copper engraved maps of Victoria organised by Alexander John Skene and A C Allen and engraved by Slight and The Lord's Prayer in 50 different kinds of shorthand
The Victorian Academy of Arts organised the Fine Arts section which included paintings by Louis Buvelot, Eugene von Guerard, Isaac Whitehead and Henry Leonardus van den Houten.

Closing

At the closing ceremony at noon on 16 November, Redmond Barry, chairman of the commissioners, addressing the acting governor William Stawell summarised the numbers of exhibitors, visitors and proceeds. He described jury selection and summarised medals awarded. He also thanked the jurors and the trustees of the Public Library and National Museum for the use of their great hall and annexes.