Why is Melbourne’s Royal Exhibition Building World Heritage-listed?
Melbourne’s Royal Exhibition Building is on the World Heritage List as a physical manifestation of the international exhibition movement.
Some of Australia’s World Heritage sites are fairly predictable. It doesn’t take too much brainpower to work out why the Great Barrier Reef or K’Gari are on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Perhaps more surprising is that there is a World Heritage site in the centre of Melbourne. And what’s more, it’s a convention centre…
How to do Melbourne IN STYLE
If there’s a special occasion while you’re in Melbourne, consider splashing out on these memory-making experiences…
- An indulgent Yarra Valley food and wine tour – with lunch at Yering Station.
- A sunrise hot air balloon flight across the city – followed by a champagne breakfast.
- See the city by helicopter.
- A private Great Ocean Road tour – with an early start to beat the crowds.
- Tandem skydive from 14,000ft – and land on the beach.
History of the Royal Exhibition Building
The Royal Exhibition Building was built for the Melbourne International Exhibition in 1880-81. Later on, the first opening of the Parliament of Australia was held here in 1901.
In the 1956 Olympics, the Royal Exhibition Building hosted basketball, weightlifting and wrestling events. That it was still standing to do so is something of a surprise – Melbourne City Council held a vote on demolishing it in 1948, and the Royal Exhibition Building survived by a very narrow margin.
The Royal Exhibition Building is 150 metres long, shaped like a cross and built to a mish-mash of architectural styles – although the dome is modelled on that of Florence’s cathedral.
14 fantastic experiences that make the most of your free time in Melbourne
- Get the very best views – on a hot air balloon flight over the city.
- See the changing colours of the river – on a sunset kayaking tour – with dinner. (Highly recommended ✅)
- Feast and see the sights at the same time – on a four course dinner cruise along the Yarra River.
- A genuinely excellent street art tour, led by prominent street artists. (Highly recommended ✅)
- The also superb Aboriginal heritage, plants and bush food tour in the Botanic Gardens. (💲 Great value 💲)
- Best of Melbourne bike tour – you can see more on two wheels than walking.
- Hidden laneways bar crawl OR foodie discovery tour OR chocolate and dessert tour.
- Combo ticket for Australian Sports Museum and MCG tour.
- Hassle-dodging advance tickets for the Melbourne Skydeck, Melbourne Zoo, the Ice Bar (with cocktails) and Sea Life Aquarium.
Why the Royal Exhibition Building is World Heritage-listed
It’s an impressive building, but the scale and architecture isn’t the reason for the Royal Exhibition Building being on the World Heritage List.
It was added to the World Heritage List in 2004, with the main reason being that the Royal Exhibition Building is arguably the best physical manifestation of the international exhibition movement.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, giant exhibitions were held in cities around the world, showcasing cultural and industrial innovations.
Most of the buildings that housed these enormous exhibitions were later torn down. Melbourne’s Royal Exhibition Building, however, still stands and looks much like it did at the time.
You can read the full text of the inscription on the UNESCO website.
👇 7 great day trips while you’re in Melbourne 👇
- Great Ocean Road tour – with koalas 🐨.
- Brighton Beach, Moonlit Sanctuary and Phillip Island tour – with penguins 🐧.
- Yarra Valley wine tour – with gin, cider and cheese 🍷.
- Grampians National Park tour – with bushwalks and LOADS of kangaroos 🦘.
- Mornington Peninsula tour – with hot springs bathing 🛀.
- Wilsons Promontory tour – with all manner of native wildlife 🦘🐨.
- Dandenong Ranges steam train ride – plus wildlife at Healesville Sanctuary and chocolate-tasting in the Yarra Valley.
Why not BROWSE THE BEST DEALS – with instant confirmation and hassle-free, mobile-friendly tickets?
Where is the Royal Exhibition Building?
The Royal Exhibition Building is in Carlton Gardens to the north of Melbourne city centre. It is next to the Melbourne Museum.
Royal Exhibition Building tours
The best way to learn more about the Royal Exhibition Building, and to see its highlights, is on a guided tour. One hour tours of the Dome Promenade cost $29 at the time of writing.
More information on Melbourne attractions
Albert Park Driving Range | Albert Park Grand Prix circuit | Australian Sports Museum | Birrarung Marr | Block Arcade | Brighton Beach | Brimbank Park | Carrum Beach | Chirnside Park | Cooks’ Cottage | Cranbourne Gardens | Dandenong Market | Edinburgh Gardens | Flagstaff Gardens | Immigration Museum | Melbourne Cricket Ground | Melbourne Park | Melbourne Skydeck | Melbourne Zoo | National Gallery of Victoria | Organ Pipes National Park | Prahran Market | Puffing Billy | Queen Victoria Gardens | Sandringham Beach | South Melbourne Market | Spirit of Melbourne dinner cruise | St Kilda Sports Club | Werribee Open Range Zoo |