Meticulous conservation, restoration and reconstruction works to façade and interior

The Royal Exhibition Building is one of the largest and finest nineteenth century buildings in Australia. It was designed by Joseph Reed (c.1823-1890) for Melbourne’s involvement in the great international exhibitions of 1880 and 1888. The main building is the only international survivor of a Great Hall from a major industrial exhibition of the period. The astonishing interior decoration we see today was completed for the 1901 opening at the REB of the first Australian Parliament and subsequently was the backdrop to the Victorian State Parliament (accommodated in the building 1901-1927).

In the last 35 years, as a heritage place the REB has progressed from state registration to national listing to UNESCO World Heritage status. Each represents differing approaches to conservation. There are also changing opinions and advances in science, methodologies and repair techniques to consider.

The reinstatement conservation works comprise: a new lift and steel stair in the West Pavilion, where the original lift had been; the Lower Promenade Deck, some 14m wide over a hipped section of roof; and four Upper Promenade Decks surrounding the Dome, with steel connecting stairs. In addition, a new interior viewing area has been created at mezzanine level — a stop on the lift route. These works are reversible and have minimal effect on heritage fabric. The new lift shaft supports the staircase, which does not touch the Pavilion walls. The original lift had been an exhibition demonstration, long dismantled, though its brick-lined hydraulic shaft was discovered during the works and has been exposed to view through a porthole in the new stair landing.

The other scope covers the exterior conservation works to the entire South Facade, the Dome drum, and some roof areas. The decorative pressed cement orbs were safety-checked and any that failed replaced like-for-like. Lengthy debates took place about paint solutions and technical issues — the continuation of a 35-year conversation. It was decided to remove all the existing layers of paint (over 3,750 sq m) so as to conserve the original render below, then repaint with a modern system.

All our work to the Royal Exhibition Building has involved exacting and meticulous research. Projects undertaken at various times include the removal of massive additions, external and internal fabric conservation, and subtle adaptive reuse works. Inside, the 1901 decorative treatment was investigated and reconstructed by our conservation team and the vast area of the main floor progressively replaced. The survival of this remarkable building is a result of its continuous use as a viable exhibition hall, a use which continues today — today as part of Museum Victoria’s campus. The restoration of the Western Forecourt included the installation of a gigantic 1.4 million litre rainwater storage tank below the landscaping - a conscious effort to incorporate natural resource sustainability into the daily operations of the buidling and its environs.

Our work has also included the preparation of a series of conservation management plans for the building and for the gardens. Lovell Chen completed a CMP for the whole site in 2009, and a heritage management plan in 2020. A buffer zone — the World Heritage Environs Area — covering an additional 55.26 hectares was established in 2009, following the preparation of the World Heritage Environs Area Strategy Plan. Lovell Chen is the principal author of the CMP and the strategy plan. In 2022, we completed a heritage management plan for the building and Carlton Gardens, one of a suite of management documents that form part of a World Heritage Management Plan for the place.