Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre

General information
Type	Convention centre
Location	Mounts Bay Road Perth
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Current tenants	Wyllie Group Brookfield
Construction started	2001 (2001)
Completed	26 August 2004; 21 years ago (2004-08-26)
Management	Spotless
Technical details
Floor area	16,500 m² (178,000 sq ft)
Design and construction
Architect	Cox Architecture
Developer	Government of Western Australia
Main contractor	Multiplex
Other information
Seating capacity	2,500 (Riverside theatre)

The Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre is a large, privately owned building in Perth, Western Australia. It's a special place where big meetings, shows, and events happen. Think of it as a huge event space for many different activities.

About the Centre
A Look Back at the Centre's History
Events Held at the Centre
See also

About the Centre

What's Inside?

The centre has a massive floor space of 16,500 square metres (177,605 sq ft), which is like having over two football fields indoors! It can host up to 5,000 people at once. Inside, you'll find modern technology, six big exhibition halls, and a theatre with 2,500 seats. There are also fancy ballrooms for parties and 23 smaller rooms for meetings.

Where is it Located?

You can find the centre between Mounts Bay Road and the Mitchell Freeway. It's also very close to Elizabeth Quay, a popular waterfront area in Perth. This makes it easy for people to get there.

How Does it Work?

This centre is the only one of its kind in Western Australia built just for conventions. Its main goal is to bring large events to Perth. This helps the city's tourism and hospitality businesses. The building has lifts to help everyone move easily between its different levels.

A Look Back at the Centre's History

Building the Centre

The idea for the centre started in November 2000. The Premier of Western Australia at the time, Richard Court, announced that a company called Multiplex would build it. Construction began in June 2001. The centre officially opened on August 26, 2004, with Premier Geoff Gallop there for the ceremony.

Early Challenges and Big Events

Building the centre was a bit tricky. Some people thought it cost too much money and didn't look very nice from the outside. Some even called it a "giant grey cockroach"! However, it proved to be very important. For example, it allowed Perth to host the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 2011 (CHOGM) in 2011. This was a huge event where leaders from over 50 countries came together.

Who Manages It Now?

The Wyllie Group has a long-term lease to operate the centre until 2039. Another company, Spotless, manages the day-to-day operations. They have invested a lot of money to keep the centre modern and attractive for big events.

Recent Developments

In 2016, over 900,000 people visited the centre. This included nearly 100,000 visitors from other parts of Australia and the world. However, some people thought the centre needed to be bigger to stay competitive. In 2019, there were some issues with the underground car park sinking a little. More recently, in 2022, Brookfield bought a share in the centre.

In January 2024, plans were revealed to upgrade the centre. These plans include making it bigger and adding a new waterfront area. This new area would have direct access to the Swan River, with jetties and a floating stage for performances. There are also plans for a new bridge connecting the centre to Elizabeth Quay. The Wyllie Group hopes these upgrades will be finished by 2029.