The Queen Victoria building or the QVB as it is called by the Sydneysiders, is beautiful. It is a huge building that is spread over a whole city block. It was first constructed in 1898 to relocate the old Sydney markets into a centralized building. It has since accommodated a concert hall which later converted into a City Library. It has held municipal offices, and finally in 1984, the building was given a complete makeover and it has been converted int a mall and shopping centre. The restoration of the exterior was done by Ipoh Garden Berhad, a Malaysian company, and they did an excellent job.

The Queen Victoria building is easily recognizable by the huge central dome that comprises of an inner dome made of glass and green tinged copper exterior dome. There are awesome stained glass windows and wood panelling and architecture and grand staircases going through huge balconies which make this building look unique and ornate. There are elegant shops and lots of open spaces along with eateries. A visitor to Queen Victoria building can spend days browsing and not get tired. It has many unique features like a hanging clock that shows all the English Kings and Queens ending with the beheading of Charles 1. There are 32 clocks, 12 of which display times all over the world. Also displayed in the dome are 33 paintings, and over a hundred figurines that are hand.

Another clock tells the history of Australia from the perspective of both Aboriginal and European people. A symbolic Aboriginal elder is displayed in this clock as passing of time and as he passes by the various scenes they light up.

The time shows are very entertaining and are heralded by trumpets every hour. Permanent and temporary exhibitions are held at every level. Replicas of the Crown Jewels are also displayed here which attract a lot of impressed visitors.

QUEEN VICTORIA BUILDING is huge and perhaps the only mall that provides guided walking tours with IATG tourist guides who will provide you with all the historical data related to QUEEN VICTORIA BUILDING. The guided tours are held twice a day and you can check the time from the information desk. Information Desks are strategically located close to the central dome at all the levels to assist visitors.

There are restaurants in the basement and a railway station. It also has the city’s busiest pedestrian walkways. Though the shops are classy and price tags beyond the reach of most shoppers, the food court at QUEEN VICTORIA BUILDING is excellent and reasonable.

Tourists visit the mall more to see the ornate building, the stonework and enjoy the beautiful ambience than to shop at the 200 odd shops in the mall, as the cost of the goods is very pricey.

The QUEEN VICTORIA BUILDING is open: on all week days from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. On Thursday from 9am – 9pm;

On Sundays and Public Holidays Queen Victoria Building is open from I am – 5pm.

Some stores, cafes, & restaurants in Queen Victoria Building are open longer.

Address : 2 Murray Street, Darling Harbour

Phone : 612 9298 3777

Directions : The above address sounds specific but in truth, it is very easy to find. Just go to the end of the Darling Harbour Shoppe after the Pyrmont Bridge. You will see the Lighthouse, the Destroyer and the Submarine.

The History of The Australian Maritime Museum

The museum was found in 1965 by a group of public spirited citizens of Sydney in their efforts to preserve the Sydney 1902 VIP steam launch Lady Hopetoun. It has now evolved into a non-profit organization which is dedicated to the preservation of Austrailian and in particular, the Sydney maritime heritage. It is funded though donations, membership subscriptions vessel charges etc. The Museum has dedicated volunteer workers who restore, operate and maintain the Museum’s fleet of vintage vessels. The entry is free. Actually the only parts of the museum to have to pay to see are the exhibits that are not in the museum. i.e. the ships and submarines docked at the harbour.

Since Australia is surrounded by oceans on all sides, it naturally has a rich maritime history. This museum is located right at Darling Harbour to showcase exactly that. The museum comprises of two sections, the building and the outside exhibits. The outside exhibits are wonderful and unique. They are the numerous ships and other vessels docked right next to the museum. Visitors can see a recently retired attack submarine, a destroyer, a lightship and many other smaller vessels. One can actually enter the submarine and destroyer and tour them. The experience is wonderful and I would advise any visitor to take a tour. The submarine has narrow passages, and at times you need to crawl through tight spaces. It makes a visitor gain an insight into the lives of the seamen who actually live in them for months at a stretch. However, I would not recommend the submarine to a person who is claustrophobic. The destroyer is a much better option for them. There are guided tours, as well as volunteers who will answer your questions. You could also explore these vessels on your own.

The internal exhibits are also numerous and interesting. They traces back Australia’s maritime history from Aboriginal canoes to submarines and racing yachts. There is also a “welcome” wall, which is a monument to all the immigrants that came to Australia by sea. Inside the museum they have several exhibits devoted to colonial settlement, the fishing industry, ocean transport, migration and of course the navy. It also has a great display of scrimshaw work from the days before whaling was banned. There are many interactive displays, some of them designed specially for children who really enjoy them. Downstairs is the section devoted to WWII, and this is quite popular with people interested in history and the world wars.

There is a gift shop that keeps the same hours as the museum and café, and both are worth a visit.

Open daily 9:30am-5pm, except Christmas day and Good Friday.
The entry to the museum is free. You can pay a donation towards its upkeep. You have to purchase tickets to view the ships docked at the harbour.

The Sydney Harbour Bridge which is also called “the coat hangar” by Sydneysiders, is one of the most recognizable features of Sydney, Australia along with the Sydney Opera House. This bridge was a remarkable feat of engineering at the time it was constructed in 1932. The length of the bridge and its cost was simply awe-inspiring. No visit to Sydney is complete without a tour of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Any visitor to Sydney should visit the Pylon Lookout. The view of the Sydney skyline from the Lookout is simply amazing. Inside the Lookout is an interesting display of the building of the bridge.

To enter the Pylon, you have to take the pedestrian walkway. You arrive at the walkway via Cumberland Street by stairs, from The Rocks, and also from Milsons Point Station on the north side. The Pylon Lookout is open for visitors on all days except Christmas. The bridge plays an important role in the history and lives of the people of Sydney who call themselves Sydneysiders. On national holidays and celebrations like New Year’s Eve, the Sydneysiders gather on boats and on the beach and coves to watch the fireworks display.

A relatively less known fact is that beneath the Sydney Harbour Bridge i.e. when you make your way from the main city side under the southern approach of the bridge there is an archeological dig and remains of an old fort which was broken so that the bridge got constructed. This fort was one of Sydney’s primary defenses. Several of the cannons are still there along with the information of the fort and its history.

One of the wackiest things to do while in Sydney is The Bridge Climb. You put on an all gray jump suit, rope up and climb with a group of 20 people. You will be connected to all the others in your group and latched via wire and lock to the steel structure of the bridge and will not fall off. It is exciting and you need to be athletic as you go along catwalks, climb up ladders and work your way to the summit of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. It is a breathtaking 1500 m climb and gives you a dazzling view of the city. However, you are not supposed to consume alcohol before the climb. You could be tested before the climb. The climb takes about 3 1/2 hour and costs round A$160 – A$200 on weekdays. For bookings visit the office at 5 Cumberland St or you could book your climb by phone.

For a great photo opportunity, you could go to the northern side of the Harbour Bridge. You could take the ferry or if you are feeling energetic, you could walk on the Harbour Bridge. It just takes fifteen minutes to cross the Harbour on foot and arrive at Milsons Point. On the way you would pass the Olympic Swimming Pool and go towards Luna Park. The view of the Harbour from this side is very impressive and more over, it’s where you could take capture both the Bridge and the Opera House in one shot.