The exhibition which had been planned since 1912 was a commercial venture and not fully supported by the civic dignitaries of the city which caused difficulties raising the funds needed.
Further funding was raised and the exhibition reopened, but continued to struggle with lower than expected attendance and, following several court hearings, finally closed on 15 August just after the outbreak of World War I.
The entire site was lit by electric lighting including the Pageant Ground which had a grandstand holding 4,000 people.
There are no structures on the site which is now used for allotments, a cricket club and the horse and dog section of Avon and Somerset Constabulary.
The initial directors were local business leaders, but they were soon replaced by the merchant John Bellham and theatre artist and director Leolyn Gustav Hart who had been involved in The Festival of Empire which was held at The Crystal Palace in London in 1911, to celebrate the coronation of King George V.[1] The idea was to hold a colonial exhibition to encourage local business and trade with the British dominions.
Publicity for the event was distributed to newspapers in April 1913 and extensive coverage detailed plans for the exhibition buildings, concerts, music competitions and pageants.
During the two months before the exhibition was due to open in May, an average of 2,000 workers per week employed by the Westminster Construction Company Ltd were on site.
[17] Visitors entered the exhibition via an avenue of murals on canvas representing agriculture, trade landscapes or culture from Rhodesia, India, Australia and Malaysia.
[18] On 6 June, just eight days after the official opening, Leolyn Hart closed the exhibition and told workmen who were still finishing some of the displays not to come into work.
[19] Although a winding-up order had been submitted by a creditor, on 26 June the receiver announced that further money had been raised and plans for additional attractions were in place.
[22] A further court hearing was held on 20 July and the company responsible for the exhibition was wound up, although it stayed open and attendances increased.
The site is now used for sports pitches including the Bedminster Cricket Club, the White City Allotments and the former horse and dog section of Avon and Somerset Constabulary.