File:J.R. Ashton - Тhe laying of the Exhibition Building's foundation stone.jpg

English: Wood cut engraving by Julian Rossi Ashton of the laying of the (Royal) Exhibition Building's foundation stone on 19 February 1879, published in The Illustrated Australian News, 1879. The full page illustration shows a large crowd gathered to watch as a pulley system lowers the foundation stone into place. By the stone, are the Governor (Sir George Bowen) and the President of the Exhibition Commissioners (Sir William Clarke). Bowen is wearing a top hat and coat with a sash. He is holding a small trowel which was presented to him to mark the occasion and to lay the stone.

The laying of the foundation stone of the Exhibition Building was one of the last acts Sir George Bowen performed as governor. He left the colony at the end of February 1879 after almost six years in the role to become the governor of Mauritius (1879-1882) and subsequently Hong Kong (1882-86) before retiring from the civil service. Perhaps because of this, exhibition commissioners had issued almost 2,000 invitations to various representatives guests, boosting the numbers in attendance alongside the general public. The huge crowds that gathered to watch the event are well illustrated by this depiction.

The International Exhibition ran from 1 October 1880 to 30 April 1881. The exhibition building that still stands was constructed for the occasion, designed by Joseph Reed and built by David Mitchell. Over 1.3 million people visited the exhibition at a time when Melbourne's population was only around 282,000.

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