Queen Victoria Building George St Sydney Shopping Arcade

Visit Queen Victoria Building Sydney

Queen Victoria sits outside the building named in her honor. Originally built in 1898, the Queen Victoria Building was designed by architect George McRae to resemble a Byzantine Palace. At the time, markets were situated on the site and the building was intended to house the different merchants of the day. When completed, various tenants operated from the Queen Victoria Building included an Art Studio, Herbalists, Piano Tuner, tea importers and a coffee palace which occupied several floors at the Druitt St end. One of the best know tenants at the time was Singer Sewing Machines.

When the markets were moved to Haymarket in the early 1900's, the building underwent many changes, losing much of the original beauty. Locally called "The Jewel In The Crown Of Sydney" the building was almost demolished and her beauty lost. Fortunately, the Sydney City Council and Ipoh Garden Berhad agreed on terms of a 99 year lease and the company has committed many millions of dollars into restoring the Queen Victoria Building to it's former glory.

Today, one can spend literally hours admiring the beauty and charm of both the exterior and interior, with ornate domes, huge clocks, majestic statues, arches, balustrades, cupolas and intricate lead light windows. The Queen Victoria Building is a photographers delight with so much detail built into the design. The two clocks are really a tourist attraction in themselves. One, called The Great Australian Clock which weighs 4 tonnes, depicts different Australian history scenes and pastimes and is located in the Market St portion of the building.

The Royal Clock is certainly unique in design and was built to resemble Balmoral Castle in England by the Queen's clock maker. Each hour is heralded in by trumpeters, the clock strikes and a figurine show begins, telling stories depicting the life of English Monarchs, including the signing of the Magna Carta and the execution of King Charles the First in 1649, who was beheaded after being found guilty of treason.

Housing some of the most fashionable stores, first class restaurants and boutique shops of Sydney, visit the Queen Victoria Building while your in town and delight in the buildings unique architecture and ornate charm.

The Queen Victoria Building occupies an entire city block between Market and Druitt Streets bound by George and York Streets. Just across the road are other fabulous photo opportunities, the oldest cathedral in Australia, St Andrews Cathedral and the equally historic Sydney Town Hall building.

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Ground floor shopping area, Queen Victoria Building Sydney. Photograph looking down from the top level of Queen Victoria Building, Sydney.