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1897 Brisbane
Name: | Queensland International Exhibition |
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Visitors: | 220,814 |
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The Old Museum Building was originally built for the National Agricultural and Industrial Association as an exhibition hall and opened in 1892. It was on the site of an earlier building that had burned down in 1888. The design included a concert hall, considered the best concert venue in Brisbane until the City Hall was built in 1930.

The plan of the Queensland International Exhibition 1897 indicates how the exhibition hall was used – half the space was devoted to mining exhibits and the other half to a fine arts display. The adjacent verandah was used to display specimens of Queensland coke and coal.

Interior of the exhibition hall showing the Mining Court, with a display of obelisks showing the relative production of Australian gold mines.
The fine arts section of the hall was further subdivided with timber partitions into four areas, displaying Australian, Foreign, British and Queensland items.

The records of the National Association indicate that the association had financial problems even before it started to build the new Exhibition Building. Therefore it is not surprising that the economic depression of the 1890s, with the added responsibility of repaying the government loan, was too much for the association. In 1897 the government took over the Exhibition Building and liquidated the association’s debts.
Forward to 1897, Brussels BE – Exposition Internationale de Bruxelles
Back to 1897, New York US – American Institute Fair (last in series)
Back to Getting Noticed – Back to VOLUME II Index – Back to bobdenton.com home