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The Manchester Central complex was originally built as Manchester Central Station and opened officially in July 1880. It operated successfully for almost 90 years but was deemed surplus to requirements when the railway network was restructured following the Beeching report. Central Station closed in May 1969.

The building had been granted Grade l listed status in 1963 and this ensured that the shell would be preserved but it remained standing empty for several years. Greater Manchester County Council purchased the building in 1978, developjng the station into the G-Mex (the "Greater Manchester Exhibition Centre") which opened in 1986. Its listing was revised to Grade II status in 1994 (Link for listing details).

In 2001 the Manchester International Convention Centre (MICC) was added to the complex and in January 2007 the venue was rebranded as Manchester Central, evoking the memory of the former Manchester Central railway station.

Link (official web site)
Link (Wikipedia)