Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre

Coordinates: 31°57′25″S 115°51′13″E / 31.95694°S 115.85361°E

Perth Convention Exhibition Centre.
Pavilion interior
Entrance

The Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre is a privately owned convention centre located in Perth, Western Australia.

Description

The centre has a floor space of 16,000 square metres (172,223 sq ft) and can cater for 5,000 delegates.[1] It contains state-of-the-art technical facilities, six exhibition pavilions, a 2,500 seat tiered theatre,[2] banquet/ballrooms and 23 meeting rooms.[3]

History

Richard Court, the then Premier of Western Australia, announced in 2000 that a contract had been signed with Multiplex after five months of negotiations. Construction was to commence in June 2001 and the Centre was to be completed in late 2003.[4]

Built by Multiplex at a cost of A$225 million[1] and officially opened in August 2004 by the Hon Dr Geoff Gallop, MLA, Premier of Western Australia, its construction was extremely controversial, owing to an overblown budget and an unprepossessing external appearance. It has been described as a "Soviet-era mausoleum" and a "giant grey cockroach",[5] as well as a white elephant whose financial viability has been questionable.[6] However, it made it possible for Perth to host the 2011 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM),[7] with heads of state and official delegates of more than 50 member countries.

Ballroom and Meeting Room exterior
Western side viewed from Kwinana Freeway.

Location

The centre is between Mounts Bay Road and the Mitchell Freeway off-ramp, with the Elizabeth Quay development adjacent to the east of the complex.

Operations

It is WA's only purpose-built convention centre and can cater for functions of up to 5000 delegates. The project was aimed at attracting major conventions to Perth, with the State's tourism and hospitality industries in mind.

The centre has two public lifts, one travelling from the underground car park, through level one, concluding at level two; the other from level two to level three.

Events

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Perth Convention & Exhibition Centre - WA, Australasia". Brookfield Multiplex. 2013. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
  2. ↑ "Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre". City of Perth. 2013. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
  3. ↑ Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre at Citysearch Perth
  4. ↑ "Green light given to Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre and Perth Stadium". Government of Western Australia. 28 November 2000. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
  5. ↑ There's a white elephant in the room – wabusinessnew.com.au. Retrieved 8 August 2011.
  6. ↑ Govt receives Perth convention centre report - abc.net.au. Published 22 November 2006. Retrieved 8 August 2011.
  7. ↑ Venue at CHOGM 2001, Perth. Accessed 20 January 2012.
  8. ↑ "HIA Perth Home Show". exhibitions&eventsaustralia. 2014. Retrieved January 2014.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Perth Convention Centre.