Geelong Convention And Exhibition Centre

Funded by the Geelong City Deal, the Geelong Convention and Exhibition Centre precinct will include the construction of the purpose-built convention and exhibition space, incorporating a 1000 seat venue, two large exhibition spaces, meeting rooms, conference facilities and flexible event spaces.

The precinct will also be home to retail spaces for food and beverage offerings, a large public plaza that promises to become a feature of the Geelong waterfront and a 200-room Crown Plaza hotel.

Plenary Conventions has been appointed to develop the project and will soon start on what will be one of the biggest developments in regional Victoria. 

The Plenary Conventions consortium will transform the 1.6-hectare waterfront car parking site into a precinct that welcomes locals and visitors alike as part of the Public Private Partnership. The consortium comprises Plenary Group as sponsor and investor as well as hotel and commercial office developer, Built as builder, Woods Bagot as architect, BGIS as facilities management services contractor and Quintessential Equity as commercial office developer.

Preliminary work, including construction and site preparation, will begin on site in August 2023. Once all approvals have been received, full construction work will begin in late 2023.

Once completed, the center will be managed by the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Association.

The Geelong Convention and Exhibition Center will support 600 jobs during construction and a further 270 ongoing jobs once the precinct is complete. The hotel will increase employment and boost the area's tourism economy. 

The Victorian Government is contributing $261 million to the project, with the Australian Government contributing $30 million and $3 million from the City of Greater Geelong – bringing the total commitment to $29 million.

Development Victoria is pleased to be involved with this exciting regional project that will create hundreds of jobs during construction and ongoing jobs when complete.

To find out more about the project, view the FAQs on Regional Development Victoria's website.