THE MELBOURNE EXHIBITION BUILDINGS.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 4, Issue 410, 9 July 1880, Page 3

THE MELBOURNE EXHIBITION BUILDINGS.

The following , extract from the Australasian will be perused with interest by'the ninny who contemplate visiting the Exhibition during the coming summer, and especially by intending exhibitors : — On Saturday the great hall of the Melbourne International Exhibition was thrown open for the first time to the general public, and although no oilici;*! intimation wfis given of the fact, something , like 20U0 visitors availed themselves of the privilege during the afternoon. All the scaffolding having been removed, an excellent view ol' the interior , was afforded ; and ac fill work was suspended,, visitors were enabled to explore every part of the building without fear of ibeiug knocked about by falling timber, or getting their elothba spoiled by spiasjieH of. paint. The dot-orations v.'ere generally admired, but by far 1 he greatest interest was niaifesled in the architecture of the dome, under which a crowd with upturned faces was assembled untii the time for dosing. Most of the visitor;, found, llieir wny up to tho open piatfo'nn round the exterior of tha dome, from which elevation lli« view of the city and wiburbn was greatly enjoyed. The dny wan very f avonible, considering the season of the

year, md I'roin tlie expression of grntificarion* it the.'sight.' afforded, it may be confidently predicted that the ■Icrrac'e- will become a ver} T popular place of resort with those who do not object .Jo the climb t pfr 100ft;r Although: thefcrdwd 611 S.atur'day waS'SfTirtll When 1 coriipftred with the . ntt<';idanres,that may be expected during the Inhibition, serions inconvenience arose f;r J oiu,the.fflft, that only one fitaircase has Been , provided". There js' only room for .two or three portions abreast, and the stream* of.asrenftiug- and decending jjaesengeK- lldiei cl|iai|n beiijg i goo| |ibbut in r tlfe throng. It will be necessary to provide a second staircaae in the western to\ver, so that, yiejitqrs-ijnay ascend by one aW return by another way. The picture galleries have been divided down the centre by a wooden partition reaching to \the gcUlmg coneSiderAblV to the space' ftfr hanging pictures, in addition to ensuring the better diffusion of light. The orchestra or choir gallery, nvh»cnls"t'o afford sitting accomodationfor 1000 instrumentalists and choristers, is finished, and the space underneath has .hfien... utilised for-..'the construction of a complete suil of retiring rooms for the performers. The organ,; which is to .exceed-in fiz© p»at of ,«TowD.,H*llri,e j%d%iwpsr(li the jlar|e> Tliqfol^pjfpej* placed An the gallery, ready f-o&Mfyq mC. tlie msiri.. UiiMlng. nt^y 1 be considered [poiiipieteil, only a aiuall aniouijf jingfiy ft>e |*f'lVf|ifV^ recently 'from Sidney "'stated on RJiturdey --thjtc thY ananyeujients for the Mdboirnie. ExhihieVen now further, n<l ynnced than thoy were for■ the, Sjdntv ; . .ExliibitLou on-, The teniporur3 r courts, which reniewat I>)).q4t of tht eiitfrt) ieMiftition, were also iuvaded l»y * isitors The extont /°A li 1 (Wf l l°tl &? .i#|*Wvh'lln»i:>»toriwiied everybody. The buifdingH cover uearly IP acres, of,gi;oun4>i a»d iwhen completed • wiir'fiirliirfrr'b'dAiulerabl'y moro than h*lf a million feet of apjace—the total area.of the jSxJliijiitiofiK'Tiie offices for theuae of the CoinmisHiimera are being ejrectbd t4 itbe main buildings on the west side of the transept. They occupy of space, but judging from "piaHt'eiliibiHone they will not be found more tluin sufficient for the purposes to they are to be put. The machinery amitfXetf, forming the permanent of tbe/. liittitl bniltiijig to remain after the demolition of the teniPfrary erupts aWhe close of tb/> -iare r|niehed, s the qf tite. floofiii'. but aeUthiH work'ie ■■■'well advanced, the reception of machinery need, Ms> 'delayed after >the earliest date fixed by the Commissioners. The cellars and culinary department, lavatories, &c, were all thrown open for "iTTape'cfiofiT nnd were viewed with the greatest interest. ' • i] ( !fe(Hf4ftin inaiient bmUling was laid on Febnrary 19, 1879,,80 thnt_tiie work of construction has "occupied'a'little-over fifteen months.