See how Queen Victoria Building, Sydney changed between 1900 and 2026. Drag the slider to compare the historic photograph with the modern view.
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In 1893, during a severe economic recession, Sydney's City Architect, George McRae, was commissioned to design a new marketplace to replace the original Sydney Markets. The Queen Victoria Building (QVB) was constructed between 1893 and 1898, occupying an entire city block bounded by George, Market, York, and Druitt Streets. The building's elaborate Romanesque Revival architecture, featuring 21 copper domes and intricate stained glass windows, was intended to employ many out-of-work craftsmen, including stonemasons, plasterers, and stained glass artists. (qvb.com.au) Opened in 1898, the QVB initially housed shops, showrooms, workrooms, coffee shops, and a concert hall. Over the years, it underwent several transformations, including serving as municipal offices and the City Library. In the 1980s, facing potential demolition, the building was extensively restored and reopened in 1986, returning to its original purpose as a shopping centre. Today, the QVB remains a prominent heritage-listed landmark, celebrated for its architectural splendour and as a vibrant retail destination in Sydney's central business district. (news.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au)
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