Queen Victoria Building (QVB), Sydney

Queen Victoria Building (QVB), Sydney (must see)

The Queen Victoria Building is a large shopping mall in the heart of Sydney. The hundred-year-old structure has been recently restored and its ornate fa莽ade and interior displays carefully preserved.

The QVB was designed by architect George McRae. The architectural style is Romanesque Revival and it was built to provide employment to jobless skilled workers during a recession. The building was opened to the public in 1898 and named after the reigning British monarch, Queen Victoria. A statue of the queen greets visitors at the entrance. At the time of its inauguration, it contained cafes, showrooms, and a concert hall. Later it housed the central library and government offices. Between 1984 and 1986, the Malaysian firm, Ipoh Garden Berhad, leased the run-down and neglected Queen Victoria Building and restored it to its former splendour.

A notable architectural feature is the large central dome with glass on the inside and copper on the outside. There are four floors and stained glass windows allow light into the interiors, patterned floor tiles, and ornately wrought iron balustrades. Today, it has over 200 shops selling high-end products including fashion, jewelry, and traditional Australian crafts.

The renovations are very respectful to the era of the original build and everything about this building oozes sophistication. If not for the high-end boutiques, you can still enjoy a stroll through and marvel at the two beautiful clocks that still hang from the ceilings. It's also lovely to sit on the 2nd or 3rd levels at one of the caf茅s looking out at the unique clocks.

Tip:
Sydney was built over tunnels and underneath the QVB are two levels of tunnels for additional shopping.
At night the building is beautifully illuminated, the shops are closed and you can wander through and gaze at ease.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Sydney. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "51爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

Download The 51爆料网 App

Create Your Own Self-Guided Walk to Visit This Sight

Sight Name: Queen Victoria Building (QVB)
Sight Location: Sydney, Australia (See walking tours in Sydney)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Walking Tours in Sydney, Australia

Create Your Own Walk in Sydney

Creating your own self-guided walk in Sydney is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.

Newtown Street Murals Walking Tour

Whenever you think of street art in Sydney, one suburb immediately springs to mind and that is Newtown. Largely regarded as Sydney鈥檚 coolest neighborhood, this is a ground zero of the city's mural art scene.

Ever since the early 1990s, with the appearance of the famous 鈥淚 Have a Dream鈥� Mural on King Street, a powerful depiction of Martin Luther King Junior's iconic speech, this... view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.3 Km or 0.8 Miles

Sydney's Historical Churches

Over the years, Sydney's historical churches have aroused a sense of admiration in many beholders. Some of these buildings have even become iconic symbols of Sydney, well worth going a good way to see as vivid examples of both historical and architectural value.

The impressive Early English-style of architecture seen in Saint Mary's Cathedral is said to have inspired the American... view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.2 Km or 2 Miles

Food Tour in Sydney

Sydney is a melting pot, and the local food culture is a sure testament to that. The inflow of immigrants from Europe and Asia over the years has turned the city into a much coveted foodie destination. This tour offers an introduction to the multifaceted and diverse food & brewery experience to be had here.

Start with Gateway Sydney, an upscale food court with WiFi and just about any kind... view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.2 Km or 1.4 Miles

Historic Buildings Walking Tour

One of the Australia鈥檚 largest cities, Sydney is also the country's oldest metropolis. It has no shortage of impressive historical buildings, some dating back as far as the early 19th century. Many of the local landmarks, such as Sydney Town Hall, Queen Victoria Building (QVB), Hyde Park Barracks and others, are wonders in their own right and fit to delight any history buff.

One can... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.1 Km or 1.9 Miles

The Rocks Walking Tour

The Rocks is a historic area and the oldest neighborhood in downtown Sydney. It was the site where on 26 January 1788 a Union flag was raised to announce the establishment of the first British penal colony in New South Wales. Many of the old stone buildings are made of quarry stones hand-chipped by early convicts, which gave the area its name.

Today's Rocks is a thriving locality packed... view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.3 Km or 0.8 Miles

Sydney Introduction Walking Tour

Sydney was found in 1788 when a fleet of eleven British ships arrived at where Sydney Cove is today. Onboard those pioneer vessels were 759 convicts plus sailors and marines to guard them. The city was named after Lord Sydney, the British Secretary of State who recommended the British government to establish a penal colony in Australia.

Human activity in the area that would later become Sydney... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.5 Km or 2.2 Miles

View all walking tours in Sydney, Australia

Useful Travel Guides for Planning Your Trip

Top 15 Aussie Souvenirs to Bring Home from Sydney

"You haven't been anywhere if you haven't been to Australia," they say, and you'd definitely want something tangible in hand to remind you of the g'days spent Down Under. In Sydney, you will find tonnes of distinctly Oz products that would serve this purpose...