Recommended venues for conferences
Up to 480 delegates: Economics and Commerce building
Map of Parkville campus building number 148, grid reference G13
The entrance to this 1995 building is from the historic tree lined Professor's Walk, and across a large open paved courtyard serviced by a small kiosk-style cafe. The building can comfortably host medium sized conferences (up to 480 delegates). The ground and basement level floors offer large foyer spaces and toilets, with ample room for registration desks, product displays, and light catering (eg tables for light lunches and/or morning/afternoon teas). The following venues are adjacent to these foyers:
- Copland Theatre (495 seats)
- Wood Theatre (110 seats)
- three small theatres (with capacity ranging from 67 to 72)
- Prest Theatrette (52 seats)
- two small venues (capacity of 20 each).
Up to eight additional small venues (around 20 seats each) are also accessible from the entrance courtyard and verandah, which can be used for parallel sessions or for break-out spaces. If additional overflow capacity is required for large plenary sessions, audio from the Copland Theatre can be transmitted simultaneously to the Wood Theatre and the three small theatres.
Up to 480 delegates: Sidney Myer Asia Centre
Map of Parkville campus building number 158, grid reference I21
This contemporary building offers striking large foyer spaces, an impressive entrance off Swanston Street, and ready access to a large landscaped open garden featuring a large mature gum tree. The Carrillo Gantner Theatre (486 seats) is located in the basement level, with an adjacent foyer and toilets. This theatre is complemented by up to twelve smaller flat-floored venues on the ground and first floor levels (each with a capacity of around 25), which are ideal for parallel sessions.
All proposed events to take place in the Sidney Myer Asia Centre should be Asia-focused and need approval from Asialink. For example, seminars and public lectures on Asia-related issues, visiting delegations from Asia, public ‘country briefings’ such as the ‘Indonesia Update’ and Asia-related book launches, cultural exhibitions and performances.
Up to 380 delegates: Old Arts building (in the historic heart of the original campus)
Map of Parkville campus building number 149, grid reference G14
This stone-clad architecturally striking building dates from 1919-24 and can comfortably accommodate medium-sized conferences for up to 380 delegates, with available venues ranging from a large tiered theatre for plenary sessions (maximum capacity of 395 seats), complemented by five smaller theatres suitable for parallel sessions (capacity ranging from 80 to 130) and up to ten smaller flat-floored venues with optimal capacity of between 20 and 30 delegates.
Up to 280 delegates: Elisabeth Murdoch building with David Caro (Physics Podium) building
- Elisabeth Murdoch building number 134, grid reference F20
- David Caro building number 192, grid reference E20
These buildings are alongside Swanston Street and offer attractive and modern well-equipped theatres in close proximity to each other, with nearby foyer spaces and toilets, that are suitable for medium sized conferences (up to 280 delegates). There are three ground-level theatres:
- Hercus Theatre (capacity of 120 delegates)
- Laby Theatre (capacity of 180 delegates)
- Elisabeth Murdoch Theatre (capacity of 280 delegates) is comfortable and modern, housed in the oldest part of Elisabeth Murdoch Building, a sandstone building which was designed in the Gothic style, and dates from 1884-1908.
These provide considerable scope for plenary and parallel sessions, complemented by ten flat-floored spaces on the first floor of David Caro (Physics Podium) which are suitable for small parallel sessions (five with capacity for 25 delegates each and five with capacity for 18 delegates each).
Up to 280 delegates: Architecture building
Map of Parkville campus building number 133, grid reference F18
This building is suitable for medium sized conferences (around 280 delegates). It offers four small to medium sized venues spread across three floors: the Prince Philip (300 seats) and Sisalkraft Theatres (99 seats) on the ground floors; eZone (70 seats) on level one; and the James Hardie Theatre (100 seats) on the second floor. The ground level foyer is very large and is recommended for registration desks. Toilets are available on all levels. Additional small flat-floored venues (20 to 25 seats each) are available on levels one and two, that are suitable for parallel sessions.
Up to 180 delegates: ICT building (at University Square)
Map of Parkville campus building number 105, grid reference P14
The entrance to this modern building is from Barry Street. The ground level foyer is spacious and provides an ideal venue for welcome and registration, as well as morning and afternoon teas, and light lunches. The theatres are spread across three floors and range in capacity from 80, 100, and 194 seats. Conference delegates will have convenient access to the nearby University Square, which features mature elm trees, and contemporary ground level espresso cafe in the nearby Law Building.
Up to 140 delegates: 221 Bouverie St building
Map of Parkville campus building number 379, grid reference O18
The basement level of the building at 221 Bouverie St is ideal for hosting intimate academic conferences (up to 140 delegates). The floor has a dedicated entrance from 221 Bouverie St, and offers a large entrance foyer with adjacent toilets, and several potential locations for registration desks. The available venues include two small theatres with tiered seating (150 and 100 seats), and a choice of up to five smaller flat-floored venues for parallel sessions, all conveniently located on the same floor (seating between 16 and 30).