Every global city has an iconic building, a place that captures the hearts of generations. The Royal Exhibition Building is ours.

Built for the 1880 Melbourne International Exhibition, the Royal Exhibition Building is Melbourne’s only UNESCO World Heritage-listed site and is a place of immense national and international significance.

The building has touched millions of lives over its decades 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.

Today, we are working to preserve the Royal Exhibition Building for the next 150 years and beyond. 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.

Our focus now is on the Dome’s interior and the repair of John Ross Anderson’s exquisite decorative scheme. Created for the opening of Australia’s Federal Parliament in 1901, the murals spanning the interior arches and columns are
rich in symbolism expressing the pride and ambition of a young nation.

With your help, we will restore the delicate plasterwork and decorative artworks to their former splendour.

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Donate and support

Donations of $2 or more are tax deductible.

If you would like to learn more about our projects, please contact the Museums Victoria Development Team on +61 (0) 435 174 252 or [email protected].

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