Melbourne Showgrounds hosts trade shows, conferences, gala dinners, award ceremonies, corporate family days, festivals and film shoots for groups of a few hundred up to 10,000 people. The precinct sits in Ascot Vale, 7 km from Melbourne's central business district and about 15 minutes from the airport, and its pavilions, arenas and outdoor squares can be used one at a time or together.
Seminars and company events
Corporate formats cover conferences, business lunches and banquets, award nights, product launches, Christmas parties and corporate family days with outdoor team activities. Trade shows range from private exhibitions to consumer expos spread across several halls. Organizers can run the event themselves or hand the management to the Showgrounds team, which handles planning, AV production, logistics, catering, cleaning, staffing and security. The Victoria Pavilion alone hosted more than 50 events in a single year, from business conferences and car launches to industry awards and formal dinners of 400 guests.
Rooms and capacities
The Exhibition Pavilion, at the main entrance, covers 10,000 m² and takes 9,000 for a cocktail event or 7,000 for a banquet. The Grand Pavilion, under a big-top style roof, covers 8,000 m² with 5,000 seated for dinner. The Boulevard Pavilion offers 3,000 m² of clear floor, 2,600 for a banquet. The Victoria Pavilion covers 1,950 m², with 1,200 seated for a banquet and 2,000 for a cocktail. The Town Square Pavilion has natural light on both sides and a mezzanine, with 1,700 seated. The Melbourne Royal Centre seats 1,000 for a banquet. The Agricultural Hall, a restored heritage-listed brick pavilion, seats 800. The Royal Block groups four spaces in one historic building, with 150 seated or 200 standing. Outdoors, the Main Arena covers 9,000 m² for 4,300 people and the Town Square and Grandstand takes 10,000. The Woodchop Arena has tiered grandstand seating for 1,300, and the Nicholas and Meaklim pavilions suit smaller shows and productions.
Catering
Food and drink are provided on site through the venue's catering partner, Gema Group, appointed by Melbourne Royal. Catering is booked together with the venue hire, from canapés before a dinner to a full seated gala.
History and setting
The Showgrounds are run by Melbourne Royal and are home to the Royal Melbourne Show, held each spring. The site mixes heritage buildings, such as the heritage-listed brick Agricultural Hall and the historic Royal Block, with large modern halls like the Exhibition Pavilion and the big-top roof of the Grand Pavilion, the latter spanning almost half the area of the playing surface of the Melbourne Cricket Ground. The venue sits on the lands of the Wurrundjeri Woi Wurrung people of the Kulin Nation.
Getting there
Tram route 57, between West Maribyrnong and Elizabeth Street in the city, stops at the Showgrounds (stop 33). Bus routes 472 and 404 stop on Langs Road and at the corner of Epsom and Ascot Vale roads. A dedicated railway station opens only for some major events; on other days, take the Craigieburn line to Newmarket and change to tram 57. Parking is available on site, with arrangements that vary from one event to the next. There is no accommodation on site, but hotels are nearby.
