Royal Exhibition Building and Carlton Gardens, UNESCO World Heritage exhibition complex in Melbourne, Australia

The Royal Exhibition Building was built for the 1880 Melbourne International Exhibition and is described as Australia's first building in a continental European style. It mixes Gothic and Romanesque elements, and its central dome is modeled on the Florence Cathedral. It stands within Carlton Gardens, a garden noted for horticulture.

The building was completed in 1880 and originally hosted the Melbourne International Exhibition, a major event that put the city on the world stage. It became the first Australian building to achieve UNESCO World Heritage status in 2004.

The Great Hall displays ornate murals and an inscription welcoming all nations, which reflects how the building once brought people together from around the world for shared learning.

The Royal Exhibition Building stands in Carlton Gardens, about two kilometres north of Melbourne's central business district, and is reached on foot or by the tram along Nicholson Street. The surrounding gardens are public and open daily, while the interior can be seen on guided tours or during exhibitions and events held there through the year.

The dome is modeled on Brunelleschi's dome of Florence Cathedral, and the building was the first in Australia to be described as continental European in style. It mixes Gothic and Romanesque elements, a detail visible in the contrasting arches and windows.