Royal Exhibition Building Open Day

Climb the stairs or take the lift to the Dome Promenade. 

Source: Museums Victoria / Photo: Eugene Hyland

With its origins steeped in history, the Royal Exhibition Building was built for the 1880 Melbourne International Exhibition. As a key attraction of the 1880 and 1888 international exhibitions, the Dome Promenade provided visitors a unique opportunity to wander and overlook the gardens and view the Melbourne skyline. This event provides a rare opportunity to climb to the top of the Dome Promenade and revel in unparalleled city skyline views for free.

Step into the basement exhibition to learn more about the past 140+ years. 

Visit the basement of the Royal Exhibition Building to see the Twycross collection objects on display. / Source: Museums Victoria / Photo: Eugene Hyland

The Royal Exhibition Building has been used for many purposes, including a hospital during the 1919 Spanish Flu Pandemic, a training barracks for the RAAF in WWII, Australia’s first aquarium, and as a venue for many local and international shows and festivals. 

A special exhibition marking 125 years since the opening of Australia’s Federal Parliament on 09 May 1901 honouring this defining moment in the nation’s democratic history. 

The Royal Exhibition Building hosted the opening of Australia's first Federal Parliament on May 9, 1901, cementing its role in as a significant place for the nation. As the only venue large enough to host 12,000 guests for this momentous event, it remains a landmark of Australia's civic history. This pop-up exhibition showcases some of the incredible objects from the State Collection from the celebrations in 1901 and commemorates the 125 years since Federation.

These drop-in session with a museum expert dive deeper into the history of Federation, Australia’s first Federal Parliament on May 9, 1901. Attended by 12,000 dignitaries and opened by the Duke of Cornwall and York, the event featured 10 days of festivities, including spectacular illuminations, parades, and decorated arches. 

Join Royal Exhibition Tour Guides and hear about what the building has witnessed across Melbourne's History. 

Activities and scenes at the Aquarium, showing performing dogs, The Grotto, catfish, goldfish, feeding the seals, pelicans and Fernery. / Source: Museums Victoria

Drop in and hear about the highlights from the Royal Exhibition Tour Guides. Hear about the UNESCO World Heritage-listed site's significance, including its role in the 1880 and 1888 international exhibitions and some of the rarely told stories of the many histories of the incredible building. 

Add a message about our shared land to the Heal Country Tree  

The health of our land and waterways affects the health of everyone in our shared home, so it’s important we look after Country in whatever way we can. Country is much more than soil, rocks, waterways, or trees – it’s a living environment that sustains, and is sustained by people. Add a leaf to the tree and share your thoughts about the ways that you can care for Country,  by writing, colouring and decorating your very own leaf! 

Make your own Royal Exhibition Building 

Be an architect for a day and create, colour and take home your own Royal Exhibition Building. Learn about the size and scale of the building, the key architectural features and the building we see today.  

And learn about other famous buildings in Melbourne!

Facilitated by Children's Learning experts 

Pick up a Discovering the Dome Wheel to use on the Dome Promenade or drop in to learn about what you can see from the top of the building. The lands of the Eastern Kulin Nations stretch as far as your eye can see. First Peoples have lived here and cared for this Country for thousands of generations. Today, as you visit the Royal Exhibition Building, you will explore its rich history, design and breathtaking views from the Dome Promenade. This space is a child-led conversation about what we can see from the skyline, how children think Melbourne has changed and will continue to change. 

Join in the Maypole dancing  

Maypole Dances at the Children's Fete on the Exhibition Oval, in front of the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York, on 11 May 1901, at 2.30 p.m. The opening of the Australian Parliament on 9 May 1901 was an occasion for great celebrations in Melbourne. Ten days of festivities (from 6-16 May) were planned to mark the Federation of the new nation and honour the Royal visitors, the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York. The city was transformed with decorations - flags, bunting, colourful lights and festive arches - and a series of public events were held, including a military tattoo and several street parades. Unprecedented numbers of people arrived in Melbourne from the rest of Victoria and throughout Australia to take part in the celebrations. The State School Children's Fete was held as part of these celebrations. / Source: National Library of Australia

The State School Children's Fete was held in 1901 as part of the celebrations for the opening of the first Australian Parliament. Today, the Maypole is still significant with the intertwining ribbons reflecting the interconnectedness of a community and the fabric it creates when we come together.  

Join communities from across Victoria as they share dance, song and performances across the afternoon. 

Join in a workshop to celebrate the many cultures of Victoria. Learn a new dance, watch a performance or join in and sing along. Drop-in experiences all day.