Royal Exhibition Building — Attraction in Melbourne

The Motor Classic exhibition at the Royal Exhibition Building is a must-see event for any car enthusiast. The exhibition showcases a stunning collection of classic cars from different eras, ranging from the early 1900s to the 1970s.

The collection includes some of the most iconic cars in history, such as the 1929 Rolls-Royce Phantom II, the 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air, and the 1965 Ford Mustang. Each car is meticulously restored and presented in pristine condition, allowing visitors to appreciate the craftsmanship and beauty of these vintage automobiles.

In addition to the cars, the exhibition also features interactive displays, including vintage petrol pumps, period advertisements, and even a retro garage complete with tools and equipment from the era.

The exhibition is well organized and easy to navigate, with plenty of information provided about each car and its history. The curators have done an excellent job of presenting the cars in context, providing insight into the social and cultural trends that shaped the automotive industry throughout the 20th century.

Overall, the Motor Classic exhibition is an exceptional showcase of automotive history that is both informative and enjoyable. Whether you are a classic car enthusiast or simply appreciate the beauty of these vintage vehicles, this exhibition is not...

Royal Exhibition Building · The Origin of the Flag In 1901, Australia held a national flag design competition. There was no single winner—five designers, Annie Dorrington, Ivor Evans, Leslie Hawkins, Egbert Nuttall, and William Stevens, submitted almost identical designs and were declared equal winners, sharing the £200 prize.

Their design became the foundation of the national flag we know today: the Union Jack in the top left corner, symbolizing ties with Britain; the Commonwealth Star, representing the states; and the Southern Cross, marking the night sky of the southern hemisphere. On September 3, 1901, the first flag was raised here, on the rooftop of the Royal Exhibition Building.

The guide also shared a fascinating detail: one of the winners, Ivor Evans, used his share of the prize money to help establish a flag-making business. Remarkably, that business still operates today, supplying flags across the nation.

✨ Standing on the rooftop, with the flag still fluttering in the same place more than a century later, I truly felt that history is not distant—it lives in the wind, in the symbols above us, and in the stories we...

Well worth the visit. We had prebooked and prepurchased our tickets for 11.00 on a Saturday morning. Ours was a big group according to the guide, most tours being about half the 14 or so in our group A couple of walkups purchased their tickets at the museum counter just before the start. The tour starts with a short walk from the museum to the exhibition building with entry through a side door. Inside the guide gives a short history of the building before leading us to the basement where there is a small display of photos and a more extensive talk is given. Unfortunately, nearly all plans and construction details were lost in a fire. In the stairwell is a water filled circular shift of the original hydraulic lift. A big problem in the early part of the tour was that the guide did not adjust for the tour size and started talking before the group of mostly older people had caught up. From the basement we proceed to the roof and the base of the dome. Take the lift. The stairs are brutal. We had a clear day, the views were fantastic. Unfortunately, the walkway around the dome was shut off for maintenance, but the visit was still...