The Exhibition Building Melbourne 1880, the South West Aspect of the Main Hall

A competition to design a permanent Exhibition Building in Melbourne was announced late in 1877. Joseph Reed of Reed ; Barnes architect was announced the winner in May 1878, and by Febrary 1879 construction was underway. The Great Hall, two machinery annexes and 100,000 square metres of temporary annexing were completed in time for the opening of the Melbourne International Exhibition on 1 October 1880, although touch-up works continued for about a month after the opening.Reed adopted an architectural style known as Rundbogenstil, round arched style which calls on elements from Byzantine, Romanesque, Lobardi and Italian Renaissance. The dome of the building was said to be modelled on Brunelleschi's 15th century Cathedral in Florence. At 67 m, it was the highest landmark in Melbourne at its time of construction.