The items you buy may be the same whether you buy them in a modern outlet mall or in the graceful confines of the Romanesque Revival style Queen Victoria Building, but you may feel a little more of that materialistic buzz if you've discovered them against such a luxurious backdrop. Three levels of patterned tiles and banisters with a fourth level going below ground to meet Sydney's Town Hall Station, this building makes shopping that bit more enjoyable. Stained glass, domes on the corners and a big one in the centre are useful distractions to use on non-shoppers while you duck quickly into Camper, Jigsaw, Country Road or Esprit.

Yeah, the brands are fairly standard, though there is a Georg Jensen and a Breil and some very decent one off boutiques, but the cafes are reassuringly over priced and it takes them a while to bring you your coffee, but when you get it you're about as close as you can get to European shopping and people watching glamour in the beautiful Sydney weather. That's probably why they built the beautiful dome, to make the European beautiful people the QVB is trying to attract feel at home...it's not really, they really built it as a way of putting a lot of unemployed but very skilled builders and craftsmen to work during the depression.

Written by  Kat Mackintosh.

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Queen Victoria Building

For a both successful and aesthetically pleasing shopping experience, the Queen Victoria Building tickles everyone's fancy. It was built in Romanesque architecture, both inside and out, and on the site of Sydney's 19th century market place. The QVB has over 200 fabulous shops and boutiques that specialize in arts and antiques, jewelry, unique gifts and of course, fashion!

As you walk from shop to shop, make sure you glance up at the beauty around you on the walls and ceiling- The building has a series of domes with exquisite stained glass windows and extensive wood paneling throughout. Shops here include Diva, Guess, Adidas, Oxford Shop, Coac and the QVB Cashmere Collection.

Shop for: Accessories, Men and Women's clothing, gifts

Cafe Stop: Hokka Hokka

Get here: Take the Monorail to Park Plaza

 

Review posted 27th October 2008 by Mary Kate Alfieri.

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