My Excellent Adventure Down Under

The Queen Victoria Building

 

I thought it was about time I took you somewhere! How about the Queen Victoria Building? It’s actually a mall now, but here is a brief history provided by their website:

The Queen Victoria Building, now affectionately known as the QVB, was designed by George McRae and completed in 1898, replacing the original Sydney markets on the site. Built as a monument to the long reigning monarch, construction took place in dire times, as Sydney was in a severe recession. The elaborate Romanesque architecture was specially planned for the grand building so the Government could employ many out-of-work craftsmen - stonemasons, plasterers, and stained window artists - in a worthwhile project. Originally, a concert hall, coffee shops, offices, showrooms, warehouses and a wide variety of tradespeople, such as tailors, mercers, hairdressers and florists, were accommodated.

This link will take you to their website:

http://www.qvb.com.au/

This is some mall, let me tell you. It's just a couple of blocks from our hotel/apartment, so it's within easy walking distance. There are almost 170 shops and restaurants! It has at least 4 different levels, the stores getting more and more exclusive as you go higher and higher. Fabulous restaurants, too! This is where I had that fantastic piece of lemon meringue pie (cake by Aussie lingo).  I wish I liked to shop (I missed out on the shopping gene); I’d go over here more often!

 

Remember this? Yummy!



 

The architecture is astonishing. You have to remember not to walk around with your mouth gaping open! In fact, the building is so beautiful that it is used for wedding photos; we saw 3 different wedding parties the afternoon we were there. Can you imagine any mall in America as a backdrop for your most important day? Rather than just talking about it, let me show you some of the pictures we took:

 

 

A view from the top floor
 

 

So much stained glass!

So very pretty; I can see why wedding parties like to have photos taken here!
 

This clock chimes on the hour, quite lovely
 

I had to get at least one shop in, yes? This one is for my sister-in-law, Lola: a shop of your very own!!

Looking down to the other floors... BIG, isn't it? If you look close to the balconies, you can see tables and people.. this is how restaurants/cafes increase their seating capacity. You can sit down out there and the hard working waiters run up and down waiting tables all day. All the waiters I saw were slim and fit! lol

 

 



This was a great way to spend a rainy afternoon, walking with my husband and having some pie and tea for an afternoon break. Like I said, I'm not a shopper, but if I were, this mall could do severe damage to our bank account! It is a great place for people watching, too.

 

 

I hope you enjoyed seeing this little bit of Sydney. I have many other places I will show you as our adventure down under continues!