Five inspiring venues for your next conference

August 09, 2022

Intimate, grand, and everything in between: Melbourne’s range of conference venues will ensure there’s something to suit every type of event. From unique indoor and outdoor spaces at The Timber Yard in Port Melbourne's industrial precinct, to the impressive Victorian Pavilion at the famous Melbourne Showgrounds, it can be hard to know where to start.  

Melbourne Convention Bureau (MCB) has selected five inspiring venues to get those creative juices flowing when you’re planning your next large event.  

Sporting Sustainability: CENTREPIECE at Melbourne Park 

CENTREPIECE at Melbourne Park is an exciting new venue at Melbourne’s famous sports and entertainment precinct. Building on experience with major events like the Australian Open, they can host everything from large-scale conferences and major awards nights to weddings and gala celebrations with five-star dining. 

Climate-conscious event organisers will love CENTREPIECE at Melbourne Park. The kitchen garden provides year-round food for the seasonal menu, and for other supplies there’s a focus on low food mileage and supporting local farmers. Additionally, waste is converted into fertiliser through an organic composting system, water is harvested and recycled throughout the precinct, and the facility has achieved gold level LEED sustainability certification. 

Home of Big Ideas: Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC) 

MCEC is the ultimate conference destination. Hosting more than 1,000 events each year, they bring their imagination into the planning to ensure that each event is fresh and unique. As Australia’s biggest convention centre, MCEC features 63 versatile meeting rooms, including a plenary theatre with capacity for up to 5,500 delegates. The 39,000 square metre exhibition space is pillar-free, offering prime opportunities for the blending of great minds and ideas. 

An event at MCEC is a truly Melbourne experience, with the design of the venue inspired by the cultural and creative heartbeat of the city itself. Bespoke menus are created by in-house chefs using fresh local produce. MCEC is centrally located, with the city’s exciting dining and entertainment venues right outside the door and only 20 minutes from Melbourne Airport. 

The Melbourne Icon: Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) 

The Melbourne Cricket Ground, hallowed ground of Australian sports, is Australia’s largest stadium. By no means limited to sports, the venue has function spaces to suit a variety of events. The stadium holds over 100,000 people, and conference holders can impress delegates with the use of the scoreboard and LED ribbons. Guided tours and visits to the Australian Sports Museum can also give attendees a glimpse of Victorian sporting culture and history. 

The variety of spaces means MCG Events can work with you to host intimate functions or larger gatherings, with the Olympic Room and Members Dining Room each having capacity for up to 1,000 guests in a cocktail configuration. 

Events with Nature’s Friends: Melbourne Zoo 

Private wildlife exhibits, lush bamboo forests and perhaps even the roar of lions in the background will ensure an unforgettable experience for conference guests at Melbourne Zoo. The Zoo has a variety of indoor and outdoor spaces to suit a range of functions and can also include personal animal encounters that guarantee the event will be remembered for years to come. The Zoo’s catering options include ‘Food for Thought’ – a menu specifically designed to help delegates maintain good concentration throughout the conference. The in-house chef can also work closely with event organisers to design a bespoke menu that suits your needs. 

The Venue of the Future: Melbourne Connect

World-class researchers, government and industry experts, intellectuals and artists come together at this purpose-built innovation precinct beside the University of Melbourne. Melbourne Connect aims to address future challenges such as AI, cyber security and data ethics with digitally-driven and socially responsible solutions. Melbourne Connect also includes Science Gallery Melbourne, where art and science combine to inspire visitors with fresh ideas. Event spaces are flexible and technology-enabled, ranging from open spaces to smaller meeting and dining rooms.  

Find out how MCB can support you in searching for the perfect venue for your next business event.