Queen Victoria Building – QVB Sydney Australia
The Queen Victoria Building (QVB) in Sydney, Australia, is a magnificent example of Victorian Romanesque architecture and a must-visit for anyone interested in history, architecture, or shopping.
The QVB was built between 1893 and 1898, during the reign of Queen Victoria, to celebrate her Diamond Jubilee in 1897. It was designed by George McRae in the exuberant style of the late Victorian era. Originally, the building served as a marketplace for Sydney’s residents. Over the years, it has housed various functions, from a concert hall to government offices, before its restoration in the 1980s to become a shopping center.
Today, the Queen Victoria Building is one of Sydney’s premier shopping destinations. It houses over 180 boutiques, many of which are high-end fashion stores, alongside cafes, restaurants, and specialty shops like toy stores and jewelry shops.
In the 4K video of Sydney above, we walk through Queen Victoria Building (QVB) on a busy Friday afternoon. We start outside the building to admire the outside architecture (with a view of the Sydney Tower) go through the building where you will see all the Christmas decorations and then come out the other side where a statue of Queen Victoria’s dog is.
Queen Victoria Building Architectural Features
Exterior: The building boasts ornate sandstone facades, a copper-clad dome, and intricate sculptures including gargoyles and statues, notably one of Queen Victoria herself at the southern end.
Interior: Inside, visitors are greeted by a grand atrium that soars to a height of 30 meters, with a central dome that’s adorned with beautiful stained-glass windows. The floors are adorned with mosaic tiles creating beautiful patterns, including zodiac signs and historical images.
Restoration: The building was saved from demolition in the 1970s and underwent a significant restoration in the 1980s, which preserved its historical elements while transforming it into a modern retail space.
Don’t miss the Royal Clock, which chimes every quarter hour, offering a spectacle with animated figures celebrating 1000 years of English history.
The Royal Clock should not be confused with The Great Australian Clock at the Queen Victoria Building. It is the world’s largest hanging animated turret clock, weighing four tonnes and standing ten meters tall. It tells the history of Australia from both Aboriginal and European perspectives through 33 scenes, 27 paintings, and 138 hand-carved figures.
Just outside the QVB, at the end near the Sydney Town Hall, is a statue of a dog. This statue is dedicated to Queen Victoria’s favourite pet, a Skye Terrier named Islay.
Why is the statue here? It was erected in 1987 during the QVB’s refurbishment to beautify an air duct from the underground parking.
Queen Victoria Building at Christmas Time
The Queen Victoria Building (QVB) in Sydney is renowned for its spectacular Christmas decorations, transforming the historic venue into a festive wonderland.
The QVB is famous for hosting one of the largest indoor Christmas trees in the world. This tree, often over 20 meters tall, is a key feature that draws visitors to the building each year.
The tree’s design varies annually but is always elaborate and eye-catching. In recent years, there have been collaborations with artists and organizations to reflect themes like Aboriginal culture since 2023 and in some years, like 2022, the tree was adorned with over 100,000 Swarovski crystals, making it a dazzling spectacle.
The photo above shows the base of the Christmas tree with art by Boomalli Aboriginal Artists.
In the 4K video at the top of this page, we walk through Queen Victoria Building (QVB) on an early Sunday morning when there was virtually nobody around.
We started outside the Sydney Tall Hall then walked to the Queen Victoria Building, passing by a statue of her before entering the building. And, I must say it is such bliss walking through the QVB without all the people around. We could really appreciate all the details, especially all of the Christmas decorations.
We started on the lower floor and saw the aboriginal art at the base of the Christmas tree. We then headed up to the next level were we got to see the Great Australian Clock and the Royal Clock in more detail. We then went up a beautiful staircase with stained glass windows at one side for a closer look at the tree, the clock and all the decorations. Yes, we even saw the spiralling iron staircase leading up to “nowhere” (or maybe some secret place). You will want to pay attention to the colourful dome about the Christmas tree.
It was such an amazing experience being in the Queen Victoria Building at Christmas time AND without people. It was well worth getting up so early on that Sunday morning (thanks to the time difference from home).
