Every global city has an iconic building, a place that captures the hearts of generations. For 144 years the Royal Exhibition Building has been ours.

Built in the 1880s in the glow of the gold rush, the building exemplifies the opulence of the Marvellous Melbourne era during which our city established its reputation as a luxurious and elegant global metropolis.

The 1880s saw Melbourne’s population double and the land and property market boom, with ornate twelve story ‘skyscrapers’ popping up across the city. The young and fashionable could be found promenading the arcades, the first cable trams ferried crowds across the city, and whilst the invention of the telephone revolutionised communications and connected people like never before.

Standing as a beacon of wealth and civic pride, the Royal Exhibition Building played host to the 1880 and 1888 Melbourne International Exhibitions, enabling Melbourne to showcase its industrial, scientific and artistic innovation on the world stage. In 1901 the building was the regal stage of the official opening for the first Federal Parliament, the only venue in the country at the time that was large enough to host the 12,000 dignitaries and guests.

The building has gone on to touch millions of lives over more than a century of service to the people of Victoria – whether as a hospital during the 1919 Spanish influenza pandemic or as a vaccination hub during the COVID-19 pandemic; as a venue for the 1956 Olympic Games or as the site of Melbourne’s most iconic events and celebrations.

Between 2018 and 2020 an extensive conservation project saw the restoration of the building’s imposing southern façade and magnificent dome, and the reopening of the Dome Promenade.

Today we are seeking support to preserve the Royal Exhibition Building for the next 144 years and beyond, restoring the iconic building as a source of pride in the hearts of all Australians.

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Donate today and make your impact

To learn more about the Royal Exhibition Building or to discuss making a contribution, please contact Maria Stapleton, Head, Philanthropy on +61 478 853 308 or [email protected]

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Donations can also be made via bank deposit or cheque.

Cheque

Made payable to: Museums Board of Victoria
Mail to:
Development Team
Museums Board of Victoria
GPO Box 666
Melbourne VIC 3001

Bank Deposit

Bank: Commonwealth Bank of Australia
Branch: 21 Swanston St, Melbourne VIC
BSB: 063 011
Account Number: 10081066
Swift Code: CTBAAU2S (International Payments)

Please provide your full name on the electronic transfer along with the code MVFUTURE.

To ensure your donation is registered and directed towards your areas of interest, please provide your details via email to [email protected].

Donations of $2 or more are tax deductible.

Unless otherwise agreed, Museums Victoria reserves the right to determine at its sole discretion the initiatives to be delivered and how any donated funds are to be applied.