English: Designed by William Pitt, the Rialto is a Venetian style building which opened in 1891. Originally a commercial building, it had space for 300 offices and 14 warehouses. The gothic towers, balconettes and arched windows were inspired by the palazzos of Venice. Early occupants were the Melbourne wool exchange and Melbourne Metropolitan Board of Works. The Rialto is notable as an illustration of Melbournees building boom during the early 1890s. Shortly after, the economic depression that hit Melbourne halted building for almost 10 years.