Royal Exhibition Buildings and Carlton Gardens Conservation Management Plan
Client: City of Melbourne
In July 2004 the Royal Exhibition Building (REB) and Carlton Gardens became Australia’s first building and setting to be placed on the World Heritage List. Context is pleased to have contributed to the strategy for managing this important place.
Our involvement began when Context was appointed by the City of Melbourne to review the existing Conservation Management Plan (CMP) for Carlton Gardens after it was nominated for World Heritage listing. This involved a ‘desk-top’ review of secondary sources, site inspections and consultation to identify areas of the CMP which needed to be enhanced or strengthened. The information in this report also guided the preparation of a new Master Plan for the Carlton Gardens.
The next stage required integration of the separate CMPs for Carlton Gardens and the Royal Exhibition Building, creating a single management plan for the site. Context prepared this integrated CMP in collaboration with Allom Lovell & Associates. Context managed the project and focused on the relationship of the Gardens to the REB. The development of clear policy guidelines for the future use, development and management of the site was a key focus.
The potential impact of a World Heritage listing on the content of the CMP was central to Context’s recommendations, ensuring that necessary strategies were in place well before the decision to include the Royal Exhibition Buildings and the Carlton Gardens on the World Heritage List.
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