Australia Inaugurates New Victoria Venue

By Rachelle Crum -- Tradeshow Week, 8/1/2005

The July 15 opening of the Bendigo Exhibition Centre in the Australian state of Victoria was lauded by government officials — and hundreds of sheep.

The AU $4.3 million (U.S. $3.2 million) venue, displaying the region's largest clear-span exhibition space of 5,000 square meters (53,820 square feet), was inaugurated with the Australian Sheep & Wool Show July 15–17.

Bendigo Mayor Councillor Rod Fyffe said the new center will help attract more shows to the region, boosting tourism, jobs and the local economy. Fyffe called the venue "an excellent new asset for the region that meets the needs of the wider community" and "perfect for a diverse range of agricultural and industry based events such as exhibitions, tradeshows and conferences."

The center, at Bendigo's Prince of Wales Showgrounds, has attracted several new shows to the region, including ECOV The Global Organics & Sustainability Show May 5–7, 2006.

The facility is funded by the Victorian state government's regional infrastructure development fund, the city of Greater Bendigo's capital works project, the Bendigo Agricultural Show Society and the federal government's regional partnership program.

The nearby Melbourne Exhibition & Convention Centre — also in the state of Victoria — boasts 30,000 sq. m. (322,917 sq. ft.) of exhibit space.