Royal Exhibition Building

Convention center · Carlton

Royal Exhibition Building

Convention center · Carlton

9 Nicholson St, Carlton VIC 3053, Australia

Highlights

A stunning 19th-century gem with a striking dome, this exhibition center offers a beautiful backdrop for events amidst lush gardens and rich history.

9 Nicholson St, Carlton VIC 3053, Australia Get directions

museumsvictoria.com.au

@royalexhibitionbuilding

@onthegrid

"What a stunner. Located in the middle of Carlton Gardens, the Royal Exhibition Building can't be missed. With a quick google search, we learned it was completed in 1880 and is now one of the worlds oldest exhibition pavilions. REB is still frequently used as the venue of choice for a number of exhibitions throughout the year, from designer markets to wedding fairs to tattoo conventions. If you'd like to peruse the interior on a day when it's not packed with hundreds of fair-goers, keep an eye out for the next open day tour." - Seven Seeds

On the Grid : Royal Exhibition Building

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@onthegrid

"Royal Exhibition Building, Carlton by Seven Seeds. What a stunner. Located in the middle of Carlton Gardens, the Royal Exhibition Building can't be missed. With a quick google search, we learned it was completed in 1880 and is now one of the worlds oldest exhibition pavilions. REB is still frequently used as the venue of choice for a number of exhibitions throughout the year, from designer markets to wedding fairs to tattoo conventions. If you'd like to peruse the interior on a day when it's not packed with hundreds of fair-goers, keep an eye out for the next open day tour."

Melbourne

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Google

What an amazing building! I came here as part of the Dome Exhibition run by Melb Museum. We had a tour of the dome as well as a special look on the roof and in the basement. The paintings are pretty true to their old selves, but they have been restored. It was great listening to the tour guide walk through the history of the building, and I'd definitely recommend doing the tour.

Albert Le

Google

Amazingly well preserved building that is now used for multi-purpose large events such as exhibitions, trade shows, conventions, fairs, and university examinations. Beautiful decor and distinctive dome. Surrounding gardens are expansive and pleasant for walks, picnics, casual lounging in the shades and photographs. Loved the fountains, tall trees lining the pathways, small ponds with ducks. All this in close proximity to the Melbourne CBD.

Yong Kim

Google

I took the paid Dome Promenade tour at the Royal Exhibition Building and really enjoyed the experience. The tour provided fascinating insights into the building's history and architecture, and the panoramic views from the dome were absolutely stunning. It was well worth the visit.

Betty Bird

Google

What an amazing place for a Lego Show. This historic building with its long colonial history and outstanding architecture was worth the visit, let alone being able to attend the best Lego and bricks show in Australia... at least that's what I reckon. The beating heart build reel garnered me thousands of followers on insta. Crazy people, crazy fun.. in a magnificent setting.

Zaxonius

Google

We came for Brickvention (which was amazing) but the building is also extremely beautiful. Huge arching roofs with enormous murals give it a really Victorian Gothic feel, which is cool. Brickvention was great, well laid out with heaps of amazing builds - awesome as usual.

Yuhng Yeap

Google

They have guided tours inside for a price but i chose not to fo it. The exterior sure is very pretty. The park surrounding it is also nice to chill in.

Leon B

Google

The Craft Xmas Market at the royal exhibition Hall was fantastic! The venue itself is stunning, with its rich history and beautiful interior design. The market had a wonderful selection of handmade goods, and the atmosphere was warm and festive. Highly recommend visiting next year!

Alma Shaban Andarian

Google

I recently visited the Royal Exhibition Building for the Big Market Sale. I didn’t realize the building itself was so fascinating! On the other hand, I really enjoyed the market and shopped for a variety of handmade clothes and jewelry. I will definitely attend other exhibitions if I get the chance.

Garry P.

Yelp

Beautiful Heritage listed building that ins now over 140 years old. Great for photos. The Melbourne Museum is nearby, and there are many excellent cafes and restaurants just short walk away, Garry Image by Aspect Property Photography https://www.aspectpro.com.au/

Andrew T.

Yelp

Have been to a couple of events here namely Oktoberfest and Gabs (a beer festival). A historic old building but a great venue for these type of events. The place is wide and open with a second story along the outer walls and the roof is very high and at gabs they even had a ferrous wheel inside.

Liz O.

Yelp

Beautiful building with fantastic gardens surrounding it. I've only been here for events but each time I'm in awe of how beautiful it is inside and out. Great venue.

Evan K.

Yelp

Located in Carlton Gardens, the Royal Exhibition Building is one of the oldest exhibition pavilions remaining in the world! One of my favourite sites and one of the most beautiful buildings in Melbourne, the Royal Exhibition Building is a place to put on your bucket list! Housing a wide range of events for Fashion, Food and Art, the Royal Exhibition Building is quite breathtaking from the inside as well. I have visited the Royal Exhibition Building for Fashion and Art and both times have been overwhelmed by the venue. It truly is a masterpiece.

Clarissa Y.

Yelp

I think exams ruined the Royal Exhibition Buliding for me. Every time I visit, I try not to develop anxiety. The pens. The desks. The echo-ing coughs. NEVER. AGAIN. However, it is a stunning building and there isn't much to be said about that. Combined with its location in the beautiful Carlton Gardens, hanging outside the Royal Exhibition Building on the field is one of the most relaxing things you can do is Melbourne. However, it isn't just a pretty sight. You can compare the Royal Exhibition Building to some sort of community hall of Melbourne that houses a vast amount of markets and events. Check out their website to see what's on if you're aiming to visit this place when it's busy.

Jean B.

Yelp

Such a grand old building deserves a grand fan fare. As one of the oldest exhibition pavilions in the world the Royal Exhibition Building brings to Melbourne some old school British extravagance. Subtle yet delightful. A stunning building visually from the outside and suitably dressed from the inside. Having attended wedding expos, craft markets and science fi-conventions the space does lend itself well to large groups. The bigger issue being who's managing the space at the time that you visit.The toilet space is limited, as is the food and beverage area. You'll be lucky to find more then two rubbish bins available on a weekend. Still a wonderful space to visit. The gardens surrounding the building are immaculately kept and make a great picnic spot in the summer time.

Matt A.

Yelp

The old Exhibition Building is one of Melbourne's more impressive architectural sights. It's a really beautiful, giant old building, located in the middle of the Carlton Gardens, next to the similarly impressive Melbourne Museum building. Interestingly, the building sits atop one of Melbourne's biggest underground water catchment tanks, which is an impressive feat of water sensitive urban design. The building seems to sit empty for most of the year, but is used for the occasional bridal expo or to house several thousand soul-destroyed university students for exams at the end of each semester. In any case, the building is worthy of a visit, just to appreciate its impressive exterior.

Stephanie W.

Yelp

The Royal Exhibition building is probably the most beautiful building in Melbourne in my opinion. Surrounded by the Carlton Gardens, the exterior of the building is stunning, and the architecture is right out of the 19th century. Its lovely to take a walk around the exterior, and really take a look at the detailing and overall look of the building. Inside, the building is one great hall - one that, when empty, takes you to another era, with interior architecture and design matching the exterior. Many annual and one off expo's, shows, and events are held here- my only problem with the building itself is that some of the events held here dont really seem suited to the venue, if that makes sense. For example, I came to a careers expo here once, and the tacky stalls, with their flimsy dividing walls took away from the building itself. The bridal expo however, was perect for the venue, and I believe the venue operators should have a think about the best uses for the space.

@onthegrid

On the Grid : Royal Exhibition Building

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@onthegrid

Melbourne

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Google

Albert Le

Google

Yong Kim

Google

Betty Bird

Google

Zaxonius

Google

Yuhng Yeap

Google

They have guided tours inside for a price but i chose not to fo it. The exterior sure is very pretty. The park surrounding it is also nice to chill in.

Leon B

Google

Alma Shaban Andarian

Google

Garry P.

Yelp

Andrew T.

Yelp

Liz O.

Yelp

Beautiful building with fantastic gardens surrounding it. I've only been here for events but each time I'm in awe of how beautiful it is inside and out. Great venue.

Evan K.

Yelp

Clarissa Y.

Yelp

Jean B.

Yelp

Matt A.

Yelp

Stephanie W.

Yelp