Our History
Three Decades of Moving Ideas Forward
For 30 years, Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre has been a place where Melbourne comes together. From world-class conferences and exhibitions to concerts, celebrations and community-led moments. Since opening our doors in 1996, we’ve brought thousands of events to life, reflecting the energy of our city and the people who pass through it.
Before We Opened
Before MCEC, there was the World Congress Centre Melbourne. Opening in 1990 at 7–23 Spencer Street, the venue marked the beginning of Melbourne’s modern convention story and laid the groundwork for what would become a city-shaping events destination.
1996 Victoria on Show
Melbourne Exhibition Centre opened on Valentine’s Day with Victoria on Show, the largest free exhibition ever held in Victoria.
1996 Public Architecture Award
Melbourne Exhibition Centre won the Sir Zelman Cowen Award for Public Architecture, recognising the venue as a significant new civic space for Melbourne.
1999 Aussiecon Three
Aussiecon Three landed in Melbourne, bringing the World Science Fiction Convention to Victoria.
2004 Convention Centre Build
The Victorian Government committed $370 million to build Melbourne Convention Centre for local and international events.
2005 Club Melbourne Launch
Club Melbourne launched, connecting global thought leaders and helping secure 150+ international events worth over $1 billion.
2006 Commonwealth Games
Played a key behind-the-scenes role during Melbourne’s Commonwealth Games as an operations hub.
2009 Green Star Building
Melbourne Convention Centre opened as the world’s first 6 Star Green Star convention centre, redefining sustainable events in Australia.
2010 Construction Achievement Award
Received the Australian Construction Achievement Award for excellence in delivering a major Victorian infrastructure project for Melbourne Convention Centre.
2013 A Life on Earth
Sir David Attenborough took to the stage with A Life on Earth.
2014 AIDS Conference
A global moment as 14,000 delegates gathered for the International AIDS Conference, with the Melbourne Declaration calling for renewed global action to end AIDS.
2014 Good Friday Appeal
Marked the beginning of a lifelong partnership as the home of Good Friday Appeal’s Kids Day Out.
2014 PAX Australia Debut
PAX Australia debuted, becoming home to Australia’s first major gaming and pop culture convention.
2015 Expansion Announced
A $205 million expansion of the venue was announced, setting up a major transformation to meet growing global event demand.
2017 Australian Food Award
Excellence behind the scenes as house-made yoghurt, ice cream and sorbet are recognised with multiple gold and silver medals at the Australian Food Awards.
2018 Expansion Opens
The expansion opened, increasing the venue by 25% to 70,000 square metres and creating one of Australia’s largest event precincts.
2018 Malaria World Congress
A world first, hosting the Malaria World Congress and welcoming global health leaders to Melbourne.
2019 One Million Delegates
A milestone year delivering over 1,297 events and welcoming more than one million delegates.
2019 Arnold Sports Festival & Expo
Arnold Schwarzenegger arrives in Melbourne for the Arnold Sports Festival & Expo, bringing star power to the tradeshow floor.
2020 A Time of Change
A time of worldwide change inspired new ways of using space, from drive-in cinema experiences to major film productions and supporting Guide Dogs Victoria.
2021 Celebrating 25 Years
Celebrated a quarter century of shared moments, collective energy and people coming together under one roof.
2021 THE LUME Melbourne
THE LUME Melbourne opens, introducing a first-of-its-kind immersive digital art experience at scale in Australia.
2023 Congress of Genetics
The Congress of Genetics brought a global community together, alongside the launch of ALIGN, the National Indigenous Genomics initiative.
2023 Bluesfest Goes Indoors
Bluesfest made its Victorian debut, delivering the festival’s first-ever two-day indoor edition.
2023 Ganbu Marra Runway
A powerful debut as the First Nations-led Ganbu Marra runway took over THE LUME Melbourne during fashion week.
2024 ASEAN-Australia Summit
Hosted the ASEAN–Australia Special Summit, welcoming nine world leaders for a first-of-its-kind diplomatic gathering in Melbourne.
2024 Lions International Convention
A city-wide moment as the Lions International Convention brought more than 11,000 delegates to Victoria.
2025 Hall of Fame
Won Best Business Events Venue and inducted into the Victorian Tourism Awards Hall of Fame.
2025 In Conversation with Oprah
Oprah Winfrey returned to Australia for her first live appearance in a decade.
2025 The Formula 1 Exhibition
Asia-Pacific’s debut of the Formula 1® Exhibition, an immersive motorsport experience like no other.
2026 Women Deliver
Women Deliver makes its Australian debut, placing Melbourne at the centre of a global conversation on gender equality.
What’s Coming Next
Looking ahead, MCEC remains a place where the world comes to move ideas forward. From Women Deliver 2026, bringing more than 6,500 advocates together across oceans, movements and generations, to hosting the World Conference on Lung Cancer in 2029, the largest lung cancer congress globally.
What can you expect when you visit? New experiences, new ideas and new connections. No two visits are ever the same, with something different every time you walk through the doors.
A Decade of Fun-draising at Kids Day Out for Good Friday Appeal
Over the past 10 unforgettable, fun-filled years, Kids Day Out for the Good Friday Appeal at Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC) has grown into a beloved family tradition.
Size Matters for 2024 ASEAN-Australia Special Summit
As the largest venue in the Southern Hemisphere, MCEC met the unique requirements of the prestigious and global-reaching event, blending functionality with grandeur to reflect Melbourne's dynamic spirit.
A Front Row Glimpse into Melbourne’s Fashion Future
Known for our coffee culture, eclectic art, and commitment to individuality, Melbourne is a city where style speaks boldly and innovation is celebrated. And part of that vibrant culture is the next generation of Australian fashion, led by Melbourne's brightest design students, pushing boundaries and rewriting the rules of style.