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1875 Melbourne
Name: | Victorian Intercolonial Exhibition |
Dates: | 2 Sep – 16 Nov 1875 |
Days: | 75 days |
Venue: | |
Theme: | The exhibition would include a representation of all natural and artificial products, all arts and manufactures and industries, all the varied results of human skill, thought, and imagination. |
Exhibitors: | 1.000 – 805 from Victoria; 53 New South Wales; 35 Northern Territory: 45 from South Australia; 118 from Tasmania; two each from Japan and Singapore |
Awards: | |
Visitors: | 300,000 |
Legacy: |
This exhibition was prepatory to the 1876 Philadelphia Exhibition. It was the fifth Victorian, and the second Intercolonial, Exhibition held in Melbourne.
For this fifth show a new wood and iron building 58m (190ft) by 18.3m (60ft) was erected on adjacent land. Aftrer the show it would transfer to the trustees of the Public Libraryto be used as a theatre for scientific school pupils.
There were exhibits from Victoria, New Caledonia, New South Wales, Northern Territory, South Australia, Tasmania, Netherlands-India and New Zealand.

Displays included two beer exhibits from Yarra Bend Asylum, three copper engraved maps of Victoria 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.
The awards given during the exhibition included the Intercolonial Exhibition medal. 648 medals were produced to be awarded to winning exhibitors in various categories. The medal included a latin inscription and was designed by prominent sculptor of the period, Charles Summers.
The Argus of 3 Sep 187 stated ‘It was believed that His Majesty the King of Siam would contribute an interesting collection, but the exhibits had not arrived for the opening. It was also expectedthat Fiji, Hawaii, and Netherlands-India would be represented, but various reasons have operated to prevent their sending contributions.’

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.
Forward to 1875, Nizhni Novgorod RS – Nizhni Novgorod Fair
Back to 1874, San Francisco US – Industrial Exhibition of the Mechanics’ Institute (9th)
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