JC. Princen French designer Pierre Cardin called the Queen Victoria Building “the most stunning shopping center on earth.” However, this elaborate Romanesque building, referred to as the QVB, was initially built as an agricultural market in Sydney for fruit and vegetables.
The building was designed by City architect George McRae in 1898; the most prominent highlights are the central copper dome and the glass roof that lets in plenty of light.
The market shut down at close on the first day of World War I. In the 1950s, this building was under threat of demolition.
Renovated with a price of more than 75 million dollars and the Queen Victoria Building opened in 1986 as an open-air shopping center with more than 190 stores. A wishing well is comprised of stones that are from Blarney Castle. There is also a statue of Islay, Queen Victoria’s dog, and an image of Queen Victoria herself.
Inside the Queen Victoria Building hanging from the ceiling, it is what’s known as suspended from the ceiling is Royal Clock. The clock was created around 1982 by Neil Glasser. It features parts of Balmoral Castle above a copy of the four dials of Big Ben. A rousing fanfare is performed each hour with a parade of the various English monarchs.
Address:
455 George St, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia
