The 20,000 square metre expansion of the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre has officially opened making it Australia’s largest convention and exhibition space.

The AU$205 million addition increases MCEC to a total size of 70,000 square metres.

New facilities include The Goldfields Theatre - a 9,000 square metre multi-purpose event space with a retractable 1,000 seat theatre and new exhibition halls. 

There are also new meeting rooms, an outdoor terrace, banquet space and the Goldfields Cafe & Bar.

The expansion is part of a larger South Wharf expansion project in Melbourne that includes a new 347-room Novotel Melbourne South Wharf that is fully connected and integrated with MCEC.

“The opening of the new MCEC expansion further cements Australia’s innovative event delivery capabilities,” said John O’Sullivan, managing director Tourism Australia.

“Currently there is an unprecedented level of infrastructure development underway in Australia meaning we have the business event venues, accommodation, technology and service providers that can make any event a success, from a small incentive group to one numbering in the thousands.”

The expansion coincides with the introduction of a specialised MCEC production team who offer services in audio, rigging, lighting, vision, multimedia, network systems and production management.