After securing funds, the clock was designed and constructed by John Cameron, jeweller and watchmaker situated on King Street.

[3] The opening of the Corn Exchange was commemorated by two performances conducted by the Kilmarnock Philharmonic Society of Judas Maccabaeus (Handel) by Thomas Morell.

[3] It was always originally intended that the Corn Exchange was also to be a place of entertainment, as well as business, and it was available for concerts, bazaars, political meetings and other activities.

[3] The building was designed by James Ingram in the Italianate style, built in red sandstone and was officially opened on 16 September 1863.

[1] The use of the building as a corn exchange declined significantly in the wake of the Great Depression of British Agriculture in the late 19th century,[6] and it was therefore converted into a music hall in 1903.

Despite a successful opening night, the show was deemed to be unsuccessful and saw the Exchange Theatre operating on a loss of an average of £372 a week.

[3] In 1979, the theatre was severely damaged by fire, and eventually re–opened to the public on 4 September 1982 following a programme of repairs costing £190,000, with a variety show for charity starring Johnny Beattie, Joe Gordon and Sally Logan.

[9] The glam rock band The Sweet wrote their song "The Ballroom Blitz" about an incident, in January 1973, when they were bottled off the stage during a performance in the building.