Carlton in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia — Oceania
Royal Exhibition Building Opening Centenary
Photographed by Dean Barton-Ancliffe, June 16, 2026
1. Royal Exhibition Building Opening Centenary Marker
(Top Plaque)
The Honourable Mrs. Angus Ogilvy
on 1st October, 1980
unveiled this plaque to commemorate the
centenary of the opening of
the Exhibition Building for the
Melbourne International Exhibition 1880-81
and the official opening of the
Centennial Hall and the Melbourne
International Centenary Exhibitin 1980
The Exhibition Trustees: F.R.G. Strickland, O.B.E., Chairman ∙ K.L. Christian ∙ R.D. Davidson, O.B.E. ∙ Cr. H. Pan ∙ Cr. L. Rees ∙ Cr. A.J. Watson ∙ Dr. E.E. Westbrook ∙ J.C. Elden, Director
The Marquis of Normanby, G.C.M.G.
Governor of the Colony of Victoria
on October 1se 1880 opened this building &
The Melbourne International Exhibition 1880-81
in the presence of the Governors of other Australian
Colonies. His Grace the Duke of Manchester K.P.,
British and Foreign Commissioners, Her Majesty's
Ministers, Members of the Executive & Legislative
Councils, Judges of the Supreme Court, Members of
the Legislative Assembly, Foreign Consuls & Citizens.
The Exhibition Commissioners: Hon.
this page online
Hon. J.J. Casey, C.M.G. Executive Vice-President
Hon. J. Munro, M.P., J.P. Vice-President
Sir Bryan O'Loghlen, Bart. M.P., Vice-President
Sir George Verdon, K.C.M.G., C.B., F.R.S., Vice-President
Sir Samuel Wilson, M.L.C., F.R.G.S., F.L.S., Vice-President
Hon. W.M.K. Vale, M.P., J.P., Treasurer, C.G. Levey, C.M.G., Secretary
Architect: Reed and Barnes Builder: David Mitchell
Erected 1980 by The Exhibition Trustees Melbourne.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public Work • Colonial Era. A significant historical date for this entry is October 1, 1980.
Location. 37° 48.287′ S, 144° 58.347′ E. Marker is in Carlton, Victoria, in Melbourne. It can be reached from Nicholson Street 0.1 kilometers west of Gertrude Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 9 Nicholson Street, Carlton VIC 3053, Australia. Touch for directions.
Regionally, it is in Oceania, Australasia, the Pacific Ocean, South Pacific, the Pacific Rim, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony.
Other nearby markers. At
Photographed by Dean Barton-Ancliffe, June 16, 2026
2. Royal Exhibition Building Opening Centenary Marker
Also see . . . Royal Exhibition Building. Wikipedia
The Royal Exhibition Building is a UNESCO World Heritage-listed building in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, built in 18791880 as part of the international exhibition movement, which presented over 50 exhibitions between 1851 and 1915 around the globe. The building sits on approximately 26 hectares (64 acres), is 150 metres (490 ft) long and is surrounded by four city streets. It is situated at 9 Nicholson Street in the Carlton Gardens, flanked by Victoria, Carlton and Rathdowne Streets, at the north-eastern edge of the central business district. It was built to host the Melbourne International Exhibition in 188081, and then hosted the even larger Centennial International Exhibition in 1888. It was then chosen as the site for the Federation of the Commonwealth of Australia in 1901. The building is representative of the financial wealth and pride that the city of Melbourne and state of Victoria had in the 1870s. Throughout the 20th century smaller sections and wings of the building were subject to demolition and fire; however, the main building, known as the Great Hall, survived.(Submitted on July 5, 2026, by Dean Barton-Ancliffe of Rowville, Victoria.)
On 1 October 1980, it was announced that Queen Elizabeth II had conferred the title of "Royal" to the Exhibition Building. It received restoration throughout the 1990s and in 2004 became the first building in Australia to be awarded UNESCO World Heritage status, being one of the last remaining major 19th-century exhibition buildings in the world. It is the world's most complete surviving site from the International Exhibition movement 18511914. It sits adjacent to the Melbourne Museum and is the largest item in Museum Victoria's collection. Today, the building hosts various exhibitions and other events and is closely tied with events at the Melbourne Museum.
Credits. This page was last revised on July 6, 2026. It was originally submitted on July 5, 2026, by Dean Barton-Ancliffe of Rowville, Victoria. This page has been viewed 8 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 5, 2026, by Dean Barton-Ancliffe of Rowville, Victoria. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
