Sydney's Old Charm
The Queen Victoria Building has been described by Pierre Cardin as "the most beautiful shopping centre in the world". This outstanding example of Byzantine architecture, which occupies an entire city block, was built in 1898 to replace the original Sydney Markets. Later, it accommodated a concert hall, which eventually became the City Library. The building was remodelled in the 1930s and used for different purposes, including municipal offices. In 1984 it was completely refurbished as a shopping centre, with more than 200 shops. The renovations, by the Malaysian company Ipoh Garden Berhad, were highly imaginative and thoughtful. Most important, they retained the turn-of-the-century charm of the building.
The building has a series of domes and domelets with exquisite stained glass windows and extensive wood panelling throughout.
There is a marvellous hanging clock that displays a series of mechanically moving tableaux of British kings and queens every hour on the hour. This "exhibition" is heralded by loud trumpeters and ends with the beheading of Charles I. Permanent and temporary exhibitions have a home at different points on each level and include replicas of the British crown jewels and a highly ornamental, full-scale oriental coach. The building accomodates a series of royal paintings.
QVB, as the locals call it, is a major attraction for both visitors and residents and is open every day. Shops with Old-World shopfronts are located on three levels and here you will find some of the most interesting shopping in Sydney. Shops such as New Guinea Arts, which has a remarkable array of native artefacts from New Guinea. There are other more contemporary shops, like the Body Shop which provides an extensive array of its products on window-display at the street level.
QVB can be reached through public transportation, such as Sydney City buses, and is even close to the light rail station near Darling Harbor.
