Travel News
AUSTRALIA TOURS
See 19th century architecture at its grandest in Melbourne
Sydney's opera house might be Australia's most iconic building, but in the 19th century, Melbourne boasted the country's top architectural marvel, the Royal Exhibition Building. Travelers on Australia tours are still awed by this grandiose "Palace of Industry."
The Royal Exhibition Building was originally constructed as the Palace of Industry for the 1880 international exhibition hosted by Melbourne. Like London's Crystal Palace, built for the first international exhibition in 1851, Melbourne's palace was intended to illustrate the possibilities of modern industry and represent the progress of human achievement. The building was therefore constructed on a huge scale, using a combination of time-tested materials like wood and brick and modern-day materials like steel. The design combines Byzantine, Romanesque and Italian Renaissance architectural features, including a soaring central dome.
Following the international exhibitions of 1880 and 1888, the building was repurposed as a hospital, commercial space and home for parliament. Currently, it has returned to its original use as a place for expos and special events like the Taste of Melbourne, so visitors can check the schedule to see what will be happening while they are in town. Guided architectural tours are also available.
The Royal Exhibition Building is right next door to the Melbourne Museum, so travelers can easily enjoy a full day of learning about Australia's culture and history.
Posted: August 16, 2011
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