Carlton in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia — Oceania

Exhibition Building Great Hall

Photographed by Dean Barton-Ancliffe

1. Exhibition Building Great Hall Marker

Inscription. (Top Plaque)

Exhibition Building
Great Hall
Built 1878-80
Architect Reed & Barnes
Builder David Mitchell
Classified "A"

(Bottom Plaque)

The National Trust Plaque
was unveiled on May 24th, 1973, by
Sir Harold Gengoult Smith, V.D., F.R.C.P.,
Former Chairman of the Exhibition Trustees
and a trustee from December 4th, 1929, to
February 25th, 1973.

Erected 1973 by National Trust of Australia Victoria.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Colonial Era. A significant historical year for this entry is 1878.

Location. 37° 48.289′ S, 144° 58.348′ 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 least 8 other markers are within walking

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distance of this marker: Royal Exhibition Building Opening Centenary (here, next to this marker); Royal Exhibition Building Handover Centenary (here, next to this marker); Exhibition Building Foundation Stone Centenary (a few steps from this marker); Exhibition Building receives Royal Title (a few steps from this marker); Pillar of Stone (within shouting distance of this marker); Colonial Mutual Life Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Royal Exhibition Building and Carlton Gardens (within shouting distance of this marker); The Exhibition Fountain 1880 (about 120 meters away, measured in a direct line). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Carlton.

Also see . . . Royal Exhibition Building and Carlton Gardens. Victorian Heritage Database

The Royal Exhibition Building was constructed in 1879-1880 to house the International Exhibition of 1880. It is the only major extant nineteenth century exhibition building in Australia and one of only a handful remaining world wide. It is set within the Carlton Gardens, one of Melbourne's finest public parks. The design by noted architect Joseph Reed was awarded first
Photographed by Dean Barton-Ancliffe, June 16, 2026

2. Exhibition Building Markers
Just to the Right of the Door
prize of £300 in an architectural competition. The successful tenderer was David Mitchell at a price of £70,257. Governor Sir George Bowen laid the foundation stone on 19 February 1879 and the main building was ready for the opening of the International Exhibition on 1 October 1880. Temporary annexes to house some of the exhibition were demolished after the exhibition closed on 30 April 1881. The subsequent 1888 Centennial International Exhibition was one of the largest events staged in Victoria's history. By the turn of the twentieth century the buildings and environs had become a combination of concert hall, museum, art gallery, aquarium and sports ground. The Royal Exhibition Building played an important role in Federation. On the 9 May 1901 the Duke of York presided over the opening of the first Federal Parliament, and from 1901 to 1927 the western annexe was used as a temporary State Parliament while the new Federal Parliament occupied the Victorian Houses of Parliament. In 1919 the buildings became an emergency hospital for influenza epidemic victims and during the Second World War were used mainly by the RAAF. From 1948 to 1961
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part of the complex was used as a migrant reception centre. The Royal Exhibition Building was still widely used in the post-war era for popular exhibitions such as the Home Show.

(Submitted on July 10, 2026, by Dean Barton-Ancliffe of Rowville, Victoria.)

Credits. This page was last revised on July 11, 2026. It was originally submitted on July 10, 2026, by Dean Barton-Ancliffe of Rowville, Victoria. This page has been viewed 6 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 10, 2026, by Dean Barton-Ancliffe of Rowville, Victoria. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.