Royal Exhibition Building

The Royal Exhibition Building is a 19th-century exhibition hall located in Carlton Gardens, Carlton, Melbourne, Victoria. Built between 1879 and 1880 to host the Melbourne International Exhibition, it was designed by architect Joseph Reed. It is Australia's first UNESCO World Heritage-listed building, noted for its dome, classical architecture and intact exhibition interiors and gardens.

Visitors can expect a grand domed heritage building set within the landscaped Carlton Gardens. The exterior can be viewed freely from the gardens, featuring ornate facades, fountains and tree-lined avenues. Interior access is by pre-booked guided tour or during ticketed exhibitions, trade shows and cultural events, where visitors see the Great Hall, historic interiors, decorative artworks and exhibitions about the building's history.

Constructed 1879-1880 to designs by architect Joseph Reed for the Melbourne International Exhibition of 1880 and the Melbourne Centennial International Exhibition of 1888. Hosted the opening of the first Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia on 9 May 1901. One of the few surviving 19th-century international exhibition buildings worldwide, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2004.

Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site as a rare surviving example of the international exhibition movement of the 19th century. Represents Victorian-era confidence, industrial progress and cultural aspirations, and remains a venue for exhibitions, cultural events and community gatherings within the Carlton Gardens cultural precinct.