Queen Victoria Building

The Queen Victoria Building or QVB is a grand Victorian building in the center of Sydney. The ornate, neo-Romanesque architecture of the Scottish- Australian architect George McRae forms an interesting contrast to the cool modern buildings around. The QVB fills an entire block between George Street, Market Street, York Street and Druitt Street and is 190 m long and 30 m wide.

History

On the property, originally the first marketplace Sydney, a monument to Queen Victoria was to be built. The elaborate Romanesque style was chosen so that during a severe recession as many builders and artisans ( Steinhauer, glass painters, etc. ) could be employed. The 1898 completed construction was first called George Street Market, later Queen Victoria Building. The finished building housed a concert hall and into the inner arcades there were coffee shops and shops like tailors, clothiers, hairdressers and florists. Over the decades, there were many changes, from the concert hall, the public library and the offices of the city government was ousted many of the traders.

Gradually, the building fell into disrepair and was finally demolished in 1959 almost. In the 1970s it was restored and is now home to many different shops and brand boutiques.

Architecture

The building is dominated by the large central dome. This consists on the inside of glass ornaments and on the outer side of copper. Many smaller domes adorn the roof line, especially impressive are the slightly larger at each corner of the building.

Painted window, including a wheel-shaped window with the representation of the old coat of arms of Sydney, let light into the central hall. Extend from the central dome arching roof windows to the south and north. The labyrinthine colonnades, arches, balustrades and cupolas are evidence of the Victorian fussiness.

On four floors, it has shops, the three upper floors are open and are surrounded by an ornate iron railings. Many of the tiles, especially under the central dome, are still in their original condition. Underground passages lead to the Town Hall railway station and a food Cout.

Interior

Two large mechanical clocks with moving figures dominate the two wings of the building and can be seen from the top floor of detail. The Royal Clock, designed by Neil Glasser and made ​​by Thwaites & Reed of Hastings, England. It shows scenes from the English Kingdom of the signing of the Magna Carta by King John to the execution of King Charles I. The Great Australian Clock was designed by Chris Cook and weighs four tons. It shows 33 scenes from Australian history, both European and from the perspective of Aboriginals. An Aboriginal hunter circles the clock, symbolizing the endless passage of time.

Many monuments and historical showcases enrich the interior. Particularly impressive is the glass box with a slowly rotating life-size doll, which shows Queen Victoria on the day of her coronation in the midst of the British crown jewels.

Exterior

At the south end are the Bicentennial Plaza and the Town Hall, Sydney Town Hall. The square is dominated by a statue of Queen Victoria, created by John Hughes. The statue originally stood in front of the Irish Parliament building in Dublin and in 1947 the population of Sydney paid. It stands on its present site since 1987.

Nearby stands a wishing well with Victoria's favorite dog Islay.

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