Timeframe

Construction on the RNA’s $59 million convention and exhibition centre is scheduled to start in April 2011 to be completed in late 2012. The annual Royal Queensland Show will continue to operate throughout the life of the project. 

Vision

The RNA’s vision is to provide the people of Queensland with a state-of-the-art convention and exhibition centre which will be home to leading educational and world-class events. It will also provide the annual Ekka with great new facilities, including a much improved home for showbags. 

Significance
The Industrial Pavilion was built in 1937 and is the largest building within the RNA Showgrounds. It plays an important role in housing events and functions year round, including the iconic showbag pavilion during the annual Ekka period. During construction of the convention and exhibition centre showbags will be housed in a temporary building during the Ekka, before being scheduled to return to the new centre in 2012.

Background
The Industrial Pavilion’s current design limits its use and ability to be a multi-use facility and needs to be transformed into a new multi-level, multi-use convention and exhibition building. The new facility will house a variety of exhibitions and events on a year round basis, including banquets, conferences, exhibitions and seminars.

The project involves
The transformation of the Industrial Pavilion into the new RNA convention and exhibition centre. This will provide an additional 10,000m² of floor space (totalling approximately 22,000m²) by incorporating an additional level one suspended floor which will be used to house extra events and shows throughout the year, as well as showbags during the Ekka. The new convention and exhibition centre will also front a revitalised plaza area that provides for additional exhibition space for indoor/outdoor events.

(www.rna.org.au/media/305862/2011-rna-convention-exhibition-centre-fact-sheet.pdf)