[2] From age 17, Maddison studied in England under architect George Morris and at the National Art Training School.

[1][7] The exhibition building was constructed in Christchurch's Hagley Park and had massive dimensions: the frontage measured 399 m, it was 113 m deep and the two towers were 49 m tall.

[7] The Government Building in Cathedral Square, which exemplify Maddison's restrained and pragmatic style, is modelled on Italian palazzo architecture.

[10] Government architect John Campbell's entries won first and fourth prize, and the building that was constructed combines elements of those two designs.

He tended to specialise in the classical Italian mode, rarely expanding into other, more baroque areas of architecture.

He made forays into domestic gothic architecture with the Nurses' Home at Christchurch Hospital and the Zetland Arms Hotel, but these buildings were not as well-received as his usual work.