The Royal Exhibition Building is the grand centerpiece of Carlton Gardens. This UNESCO World Heritage Site was created in 1880 for the Melbourne International Exhibition, a six-month World’s Fair that attracted nearly 1.5 million people. This was also the location of the Melbourne Centennial Exhibition in 1888. When Australia became a commonwealth in 1901, the REB hosted the first Australian Parliament and their subsequent meetings until 1927. Although the grand ballroom was demolished in 1979, the rest of this historic building is still used as an exhibition hall.
