Asia Pacific
Asia Pacific
15 September 2026
As hundreds of thousands of visitors prepare to make their way through the gates of the Melbourne Royal Show this September, a dedicated BGIS team is working behind the scenes to ensure the Melbourne Showgrounds is ready to welcome them.
Located just seven kilometres from Melbourne’s CBD, Melbourne Showgrounds has been hosting events since 1848, playing a central role in Victoria’s events and agricultural heritage for 178 years. As one of Victoria’s most iconic event venues, the facility offers a unique blend of modern exhibition and event facilities, beautifully restored heritage buildings, and extensive outdoor showcase areas.
BGIS has managed the site for almost 20 years, supporting the ongoing maintenance, operations and presentation of the 19-hectare precinct that hosts everything from trade exhibitions and festivals to television productions and major public events.
Throughout the year, the venue is home to a diverse calendar of events including the Caravan and Camping Show, Dog & Cat Lovers Festival, Supanova, Hypersonic Music Festival, 4×4 Outdoors Show, MotorEx and the EV Auto Show. It is also the filming location for MasterChef Australia, with the production team operating from Centenary Hall for much of the year. While no two events are the same, everyone relies on the venue being safe, functional and event ready.
“One of the things that makes Melbourne Showgrounds unique is the sheer variety of events we support,” said Laura Garvey, Account Director at Melbourne Showgrounds. “Some events use a single building, while others take over the entire site. It means our team needs to be prepared for a wide range of operational requirements throughout the year.”
The BGIS team operates seven days a week and includes four team members – Laura Garvey (Account Director), Ange Ciavarella (Facilities Supervisor), Rohit Thakur (Asset & Facilities Coordinator) and Dean Mollison (Facilities Coordinator) as well as a rotating roster of onsite security guards who work around the clock to support the site. Between events, the team coordinates and oversees repairs and maintenance across the buildings, infrastructure and grounds, while also managing lifecycle projects designed to keep the venue performing at its best year after year.
While the Showgrounds calendar remains busy throughout the year, everything ultimately builds towards the Melbourne Royal Show. Attracting more than 400,000 visitors across 11 days, the event is the largest held on the site and requires months of planning and preparation.
“The entire year is planned around ensuring the site is ready for the Melbourne Royal Show,” Laura said. “Melbourne Royal has a dedicated team that spends much of the year preparing for the event, and we work closely together to ensure the venue is ready to welcome hundreds of thousands of visitors. By August, we’re completing annual maintenance programs, final presentation works and the last site readiness activities to make sure every part of the precinct is prepared for the huge number of visitors, exhibitors and staff who will be on site.”
Once the show begins, the pace shifts again. BGIS maintains a dedicated support presence throughout the event, with key trades and service providers on standby to respond quickly to any issues and minimise disruption to visitors and exhibitors.
“During Show, the team is constantly moving across the site to respond to requests and resolve issues as quickly as possible,” Laura said. “Getting from one side of the venue to the other isn’t always straightforward when there are rides, food vendors and thousands of people around, but everyone works together to keep the event running smoothly.”
After the final visitors leave and the attractions are packed away, the work continues. The BGIS team undertakes site inspections, assesses any damage and supports the venue’s recovery before preparations begin for the next major event on the calendar.
It’s a year-round effort that often goes unseen by visitors, but one that plays a critical role in helping Melbourne Showgrounds remain one of Australia’s premier event destinations. And as this year’s Melbourne Royal Show approaches, the BGIS team is once again helping ensure the site is ready to deliver a safe, seamless experience for everyone who walks through the gates.
