Best Conference Venues Melbourne for Hire

The bustling city of Melbourne is a popular destination for conferences and exhibitions. With an eclectic mix of food, culture, shopping, landmarks and more to explore on the agenda, it's easy to see why Melbourne has been a popular conference venue and function venue choice in recent years.

If you're looking for a great Melbourne conference venue for your corporate event, then look no further! We've compiled a quick guide to finding the best conference venues in Melbourne to get you started.

Where will I find the best conference venue in Melbourne?

Melbourne is one of the most popular areas to book a conference centre in Australia, with an eclectic mix of world-class restaurants, landmarks and shops. Whether you're after something big or small-scale, you won't run out of options in Melbourne City and the surrounding areas.

Start your search in these Melbourne neighbourhoods:

Melbourne CBD

The city's main business hub is home to many of the best conference venues Melbourne has to offer. These include world-class hotels, massive exhibition halls, and theatres. The Melbourne CBD also offers a range of restaurants, shops and galleries to explore on the way to your next meeting or presentation. Little Collins Street in Melbourne CBD is a good place to start your search for versatile event spaces in a central location.

Prahran

This trendy suburb is located just over three kilometres from the city centre. Packed with cafes, bars and boutique shopping options nearby, it's easy for delegates to enjoy some downtime without travelling too far out of their comfort zone. Prahran offers a variety of unique conference venues for hire.

South Yarra

This upmarket suburb is a favourite for those looking to go all-out with the luxury of their next conference. South Yarra features high-end restaurants, luxury shopping and scenic parks on offer in addition to a range of hotels and exhibition centres. With stunning views of the city skyline and beautiful waterfront locations, South Yarra provides the perfect backdrop for any conference or corporate event.

Theatre Land (Melbourne Arts Precinct)

Home to some of Australia's finest theatres, including The Regent Theatre, Her Majesty's Theatre and Hamer Hall as well as Melbourne University Press at Parkville Campus, Theatre Land provides world-class venues for conferences, exhibitions or private events with space ranging from small boardroom spaces through to grand ballrooms that can cater for over 2000 people! There are also plenty of cafes, bars and restaurants nearby if you need to grab a quick bite to eat before your next meeting.

Easily accessible by public transport, this area is also set just minutes from the CBD and surrounded by some of Melbourne's best restaurants and bars for those looking to explore off-site on their day off!

Melbourne Docklands

Offering an eclectic mix of upscale hotels, stylish apartment complexes as well as one of Australia's largest film studios, this burgeoning area, Melbourne Docklands, has something for everyone! It's only around 16 minutes away by car from the Sydney Road entertainment precinct. Delegates who want all that they could hope for in one convenient location should start their search here.

Southbank

A popular area for both locals and visitors, Southbank offers plenty of diverse options in its range of hotels and other types of venues. Located on the south side of the Yarra River, Southbank is just outside of the central city but offers a range of conference venues that are popular for events.

Windsor

This suburb is around nine kilometres from the city centre and offers a range of conference venues, as well as various cafes, restaurants and shopping options. If you're looking for something that's more low-key than what Melbourne CBD has on offer but still want to be in close proximity to other businesses, then Windsor might just have what you need!

Brunswick

This suburb is home to some great cafes, bars and restaurants. If you're looking for something a little more intimate then look no further than this vibrant Melbourne neighbourhood. Brunswick is also home to the Royal Exhibition Building, which offers a diverse conference space perfect for hosting events.

Amazing venues in Melbourne for your next conference

Looking for an ideal venue for your next conferences, networking events, board meetings, cocktail event gatherings, gala dinners and other special events? Here are some quality venues to get you started.

Marvel Stadium

Marvel Stadium, located in the vibrant heart of Melbourne, stands as a premier venue for conferences and corporate events. It features flexible spaces outfitted with the latest technology and outstanding catering services. Its prime position offers breathtaking views of Melbourne's cityscape and waterfront, creating a captivating backdrop for a diverse range of events.

Rydges Melbourne

Located in the heart of Melbourne's CBD, Rydges Melbourne is an excellent choice for conference venues. With a wide range of versatile event spaces, state-of-the-art facilities, and superior customer service, Rydges Melbourne offers a seamless experience for any conference or corporate event. The hotel boasts multiple function rooms that can be tailored to accommodate small intimate gatherings or large-scale conferences. The rooms are equipped with advanced audiovisual technology, including projectors, sound systems, and high-speed internet access, ensuring that your presentations and conferences run smoothly.

Pullman Melbourne on the Park

Pullman Melbourne on the Park offers premier conference and corporate event facilities just a stone's throw away from Melbourne's CBD. This venue boasts an impressive array of spaces, including a grand ballroom and 11 versatile event rooms, all outfitted with cutting-edge audiovisual equipment provided by the onsite experts at Audio Visual Dynamics. Capable of hosting a variety of events from intimate boardroom meetings to large-scale exhibitions or elegant cocktail receptions, this Melbourne Park hotel comfortably accommodates up to 1000 guests, ensuring a perfect setting for any event.

Grand Hyatt Melbourne

The Grand Hyatt Melbourne provides an opulent backdrop for corporate gatherings, boasting 15 flexible event spaces over 4,100 sqm designed to host anywhere from 10 to 1,500 attendees. These spaces are perfect for various events, including conferences, seminars, and product launches. Situated on Collins Street, it's strategically located at the epicentre of Melbourne's commercial and entertainment districts, offering the perfect setting for both local and visiting business executives.

Cargo Hall

Situated across from the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, The Cargo Hall presents a versatile and expansive space perfectly suited for conferences and corporate gatherings, with capacity for up to 220 seated guests or 600 in a cocktail setting. This venue masterfully blends its historic maritime allure with contemporary design features, including a mezzanine suspended in air and a glass conservatory adaptable to all weather conditions, offering a breathtaking ambience complemented by panoramic views of the city skyline and Yarra River.

State Library of Victoria

The State Library Victoria, an iconic Melbourne landmark, has undergone an $88.1 million transformation, elevating its status as a premier venue for events, particularly corporate gatherings and conferences. The redevelopment introduces versatile spaces such as the Ian Potter Queen’s Hall and the Conversation Quarter, both outfitted with advanced audiovisual technology. This makes it perfectly suited for large conferences and corporate presentations, offering a unique combination of historical charm and contemporary amenities.

What are the best types of Melbourne conference venues?

Melbourne hosts some fantastic conferences with many different types of venues available depending on your company size or type of event. Not sure which types of conference venues are best for your conference in Melbourne? Consider these popular conference venue types:

Hotel conference rooms

There's a wide range of world-class hotels in Melbourne that offer modern and cosy conference rooms. These can be for company meetings, business negotiations, brainstorming sessions, big conferences and other types of corporate events. A conference hotel comes with all the amenities you would expect from a hotel such as business-grade WiFi access and audiovisual facilities, professional catering services, a dedicated events team and other conference facilities. With onsite accommodation, your corporate functions can be seamlessly integrated with spacious accommodation for attendees who are travelling from out of town.

Recreation centres

Recreation centres in Melbourne provide lots of different options for your next event. Gymnasiums make great spaces to hold presentations whilst more traditional function halls will suit any type of formal dinner event.

Restaurants

One popular choice is hosting your conference at an upmarket restaurant venue that includes catering on-site. This way, you won't need to organise external catering or have to worry about the amount of food and beverage you'll need.

Convention centres and exhibition halls

For larger conferences in Melbourne, your company will want a large open space with maximum flexibility for any type of breakout session or activity. Convention centres and exhibition halls are perfect choices as they're usually located close to hotels, which means guests don't have to travel too far from one function to another.

A high-level business location like one of Melbourne's conference centres is a great choice if you're hosting an international or nationally significant event.

Private function rooms

If your event is limited to a small number of guests, you can save some money by looking for private function rooms in the CBD or other central Melbourne areas. These are usually cheaper than hotel conference rooms and offer many different styles that will suit any corporate-style event

Other venues

Besides hotels, recreation centres, restaurants and convention centres/exhibition halls, Melbourne Vic has lots of other great venues available for conferences. You may also want to look at business lounges, exhibition spaces and smaller meeting facilities at coworking spaces. Some cafes and bistros have private function spaces large enough to hold up to 50 guests.

What should I consider when looking for a Melbourne conference venue?

If you want an event to go off without a hitch, the first thing you need to do is work at finding a venue that ticks all the boxes. These are some things to think about when looking for conference venues in Melbourne:

Accessibility

You'll want to find a conference venue that's easily accessible from the airport and nearby hotels. The best option is one with parking for your attendees' cars, so they're not left circling the block looking for a spot. Choose conference venues near public transport; it'll save everyone travelling time and stress trying to get through tight traffic. You'll also want to consider the proximity of the conference venue to shops and dining establishments.

Room types

It's best to know what size room you need well in advance of finding a conference venue. For instance, if your event will be using AV equipment or holding presentations, choose conference venues with large rooms that are designed for gatherings and meetings. If you're looking for an intimate space without distractions, the best option is meeting rooms in Melbourne's CBD or the inner suburbs.

Planning

You'll want to consider the logistics of your event, like how many people will be attending and what you need from the venue as far as catering and styling goes. You'll also need to make sure you have some flexibility in your conference venues. If the event is being held during the winter months, for example, you'll want a venue that offers heating and air conditioning; whilst if it's summertime, coolers will be necessary.

Amenities

Check if the event space has all your event requirements. Some other important things to look for are conference venues that offer AV equipment, whiteboards and flip charts. Make sure the venue can also provide you with an on-site technician if needed, as well as Wi-Fi access.

Location

The location of a Melbourne conference venue is important if you want attendees to enjoy themselves outside of work hours. Ideally, choose one in an area with plenty of restaurants and entertainment options that will help them relax after all their hard work at the event. Check how far is the venue from the Melbourne Central Station and Melbourne Airport to ensure it is convenient for both local and international attendees. A conference venue that is located near the Melbourne Airport will make it easier for participants who are flying in for the event. They won't have to endure a long and tiring commute after their flight, allowing them to arrive at the venue refreshed and ready to engage in the conference.

Cost

Conference venue rates vary depending on the size, type, capacity, amenities and other factors. For instance, a space with catering included will be more expensive than one that offers self-catering facilities. Most conference venues have event packages or deals that include venue hire as well as catering, styling, audio-visual equipment, and more.

Book a Melbourne conference venue in minutes

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