in 1853, the decision to build a combined library, museum and gallery was made at the instigation of lieutenant-governor charles la trobe and mr justice redmond barry, q.c. (sir redmond from 1860). a competition was held, won by the recently arrived architect joseph reed, whose firm and its successors went on to design most of the later extensions, as well as numerous 19th-century landmarks such as the melbourne town hall, and the royal exhibition building.