Queen Victoria Building

Queen Victoria Building, or the QVB as it is also known, is among the main landmarks in Sydney Australia's CBD district. Finished in 1898, this Romanesque-style building fills an entire city block and is dominated by its glorious center dome. This dome is actually two domes in one. The exterior dome is sheathed in brilliant copper, while the interior dome consists of sparkling glass. Spectacular stained glass windows can be admired by those who step inside the Queen Victoria Building, and the original nineteenth-century staircase also deserves a look. Elaborate balustrades, ornate tiled floors, and a dazzling collection of arches and pillars only add to the visual allure of the QVB Sydney, as do the many shops and restaurants that call the building home.

For those who are interested in the Queen Victoria Building history, it is worth noting that the edifice was built during a particularly difficult time. The late 1890s saw Sydney enduring a severe recession, though it was deemed that a beautiful structure should be built to commemorate the long reign of the monarch. The QVB Sydney architect, George McRae, specifically designed the building in an ornate Romanesque style with the express purpose of putting out of work craftsmen to task, creating a lot of jobs in a time when work was hard to come by. Also worth noting when it comes to the Queen Victoria Building history is the fact that it originally featured a concert hall, offices, cafes, showrooms, and warehouses. Numerous tradespeople plied their trades at the QVB during the early days, though the dynamics of the structure would change over time.

In the 1900s, the Queen Victoria Building saw numerous changes. The concert hall was converted into a city library, for instance, and partitions were made to accommodate the Sydney City Council. Due to the fact that the building had been in decline for some time, it was threatened with demolition in late 1950s. Thankfully, the Queen Victoria Building was spared, and thanks to various renovation projects, it just might be more glorious than ever. If you're looking for things to do in Sydney, dropping by the QVB to admire its stylish design can be a rewarding pursuit, and thanks to its shops and restaurants, you might find yourself lingering longer than anticipated.

The Queen Victoria Building in downtown Sydney has little trouble attracting shoppers to its 455 George Street address. There are approximately 200 boutiques inside this Victorian shopping arcade, and the majority of them specialize in fashion. Gifts and souvenirs are also on offer at some of the stores, and you can peruse the goods at the art and antiques shops. The shopping scene at the Queen Victoria Building is essentially comparable to the shopping scene that you might expect at a mall, and you'll likely notice the upscale edge as you explore the four different levels.

Complementing the numerous shops at the QVB Sydney are a variety of inviting dining options. A collection of cafes figure among these eateries, and there are places to get a burger or a slice of pizza if that's what you have a taste for. Doughnut and pastry shops, a gelato station, a sleek wine bar, a chocolate store, and an elegant tea room are also among the dining venues, and when it comes down to it, you should have little trouble finding something that suits your culinary fancy.

The QVB Sydney is open 24 hours a day, though if you want to drop by to do some shopping, you will want to note that the stores are open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Thursdays usually see the shops staying open until 9 p.m. Many of the restaurants and cafes do business outside of the normal shopping hours. Thanks to its location in the CBD, the Queen Victoria Building is easy to find and easy to get to. Undercover parking is available at York Street for those who are driving over, though you might prefer taking a train to the Town Hall Station, hopping on a city bus that is bound for the QVB bus station on York Street, or rely on the monorail, which has a Galleries of Victoria station that is approximately one block from the QVB itself.