Queen Victoria Building or QVB as it is nearly always called, was finished in 1898 just in time for Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee in the same year. The five story building which occupies a full city block right in the middle of the City of Sydney is now occupied by all the upmarket shops you can think of. It was designed by George McRae then aged only 27, a Scottish architect who had emigrated to Sydney in 1884. There is an atrium which runs the full length of the building. The dominant feature of this sandstone clad building is the great central dome of 19 metres (62 ft) in diameter and 60 metres (196 ft) from ground to top and is sheeted externally in copper, as are the 20 smaller domes. There are many statues and other carvings and artwork in and surrounding the building. Inside are two giant 19th century clocks.
It’s absolutely beautiful.
QVB had a chequered life from day 1 and was not a financial success. It ended up in the hands of the Sydney council and there were plans in the 60s to demolish it. Sydney residents led by trade union leader Jack Mundey fought for and saved the building. It was leased to a developer for 99 years and it was successfully restored and reopened in 1986.
If you ever visit Sydney it’s worth a visit and inside is a photographer’s dream. I’ve posted photos to 365 in earlier years.
Fabulous shot of this wonderful building and architecture. I have been inside many many years ago and loved it. Unfortunately at the time, I had neither a cell phone nor a camera. Great info about the history and developement.
It was my favourite building when we lived there, literally just around the corner on Market Street! Absolutely delighted to see this today. Glorious interior too.
A lovely shot of this attractive and impressive building. It is fortunate to have survived - many splendid Victorian buildings were destroyed here in the UK in the 1960s.
@olivetreeann
Thanks. I agree that a lot of the buildings over the last many years are just plain or ugly. There are of course a few which are photogenic!!
Thanks for the much appreciated comments. And for getting this image into the popular page.
In my opinion, the late Jack Mundey, the man who saved the building as well as many others, was what we call in Australia, a ratbag. He was well up in the Communist Party of Australia and was the leader and spokesman for one of the most aggressive trade unions in the country, the Builders Labourers’ Federation! After a few industrial strikes too many his union was de-registered by a Federal Labor Government! Ratbag he may have been but our city owes him a great deal of gratitude for what he did to save heritage buildings.
Thanks Merrelyn
Ian
We’ve lost quite a few over the years too. But saved a lot too.
Thanks for commenting. I’m encouraged to go back and take some more images of the inside.
Thanks. The architect was only 27 when he submitted the design in 1893. 27!! He did very well in Sydney after this.
Thanks. I agree that a lot of the buildings over the last many years are just plain or ugly. There are of course a few which are photogenic!!