Queen Victoria Building

About Queen Victoria Building

The Queen Victoria Building is a heritage building that was readapted as a shopping centre in Sydney. Also known as QVB, it is a grand Victorian building located in the heart of the Sydney Central Business District. The Queen Victoria Building was built in the elaborate Romanesque Revival architectural style. It stands on the site of the the George Street Markets. The construction allowed a great number of skilled craftsmen to be hired who were otherwise out of work due to a severe recession at that time. It was completed in 1898 and named the Queen Victoria Building as a monument to the long-reigning monarch. The building measures 190 metres long by 30 wide, filling an entire city block bounded by George, Market, York and Druitt Streets.

When the Queen Victoria Building was completed, it had coffee shops, showrooms and even a concert hall. It provided a comfortable business environment for tradesmen such as tailors, mercers, hairdressers, and florists and blackface minstrels. The Sydney's needs evolved, changes were made to the building. At one time the concert hall became a municipal library and offices for Sydney City Council.

Over time, the Queen Victoria Building began to deteriorate and, as recently as 1959, there was even calls for its demolition. Nevertheless it was saved and restored between 1984 and 1986, and today houses a wide variety of mostly upmarket boutiques and "brand-name" shops.

Getting there

Location: 455 George Street
Buses to take: George St routes
Opening Hours: 9:00 am to 6:00 pm Mon-Wed; 9:00 am to 9:00 pm Thurs; 9:00 am to 6:00 pm Fri & Sat; 11:00 am to 5:00 pm Sun & public holidays

Nearby Sights

St Andrew's Cathedral

Great Synagogue

Lands Department Building

Marble Bar

Martin Place

Museum of Sydney

State Theatre

Strand Arcade

Queen Victoria Building Location Map

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Queen Victoria Building
Author: Ben Aveling (GFDL)

Source Attribution: Wikitravel and Wikipedia

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