Opening of the Academy of Music.

Rare engraving of the interior of Victoria Arcade’s new Academy of Music, Melbourne, (the Bijou Theatre) which was designed by Reed & Barnes. The foundation stone was laid by the Governor of Victoria, Sir George Ferguson Bowen, on Tuesday 23rd May 1876 in Bourke Street Melbourne and opened in the same year. Located between Swanston and Russell streets and extending from Bourke Street to Little Collins Street, Victoria Arcade was built on the design by architect Joseph Reed. The Bijou Theatre and Gaiety Theatre on either side, Victoria Arcade became a vestibule for these theatres.

All were destroyed by a fire on the 22nd of April 1889.

From the original edition of the Australasian Sketcher.

Collections:
State Library Victoria: Accession no:  A/S25/11/76/141