meat market was not a unique institution. not only did the official city meat market compare with it, but its predecessor, the victorian meat market company, continued in operation and there were occasional reports of other establishments such as the 'victoria meat market', in lygon street, carlton. it would appear that it was intended in 1879 to float the enterprise as a public company but whether because of lack of response or for other reasons, it remained private. only after 1919, as a result of criticism in a report on meat trade practices, did the company go public for a few years. it was undoubtedly the most ambitious private market complex ever established in melbourne and appears for many years to have been the only privately operated wholesale market of any substance.