Queen Victoria Building, Sydney

Queen Victoria Building, Sydney

The Sydney Opera House may be the most renowned building in Sydney, but the Queen Victoria Building in the central business district certainly holds its place among the city's most beautiful buildings.

The Sydney Opera House may be the most renowned building in Sydney, but the Queen Victoria Building in the central business district certainly holds its place among the city's most beautiful buildings. The late 19thcentury Romanesque Revival masterpiece designed by architect George McRae is home to over 180 luxury retail outlets including jewelry shops, fashion boutiques, cafes, and restaurants. The 4 storey sandstone building was built as a monument to Queen Victoria, and the plaza in front has a 3 metre high bronze statue of her seated on a sandstone throne with a scepter in her hand.

The entrances on York Street and George Street are surmounted by ensembles of allegorical marble figures representing the Genius of Civilization and Genius of the City respectively. The Victorian colonnades, arches, balustrades, and tiled floors lend a charming touch to the old world atmosphere of the complex. The central dome comprises an exterior copper-clad dome and an inner glass dome, below which a giant Christmas tree is decorated during the holidays. It is naturally lit by light streaming in through the long skylight panels and striking stained-glass windows, including a cartwheel depicting the coat-of-arms of Sydney.