Landmark

Queen Victoria Building

4.5 · 6,251 reviews·Loved by travelers
Queen Victoria BuildingDietmar Rabich · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
Check tickets & tours Official site

Some booking links are affiliate links. If you book through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We never let this influence which places we recommend.

The Queen Victoria Building (QVB) is a heritage-listed late-19th-century building at 429–481 George Street in Sydney's central business district. Designed by architect George McRae in the Romanesque Revival style, it was built between 1893 and 1898. The building fills a city block bounded by George, Market, York, and Druitt streets and is 30 metres wide by 190 metres long. Its dominant feature is a central dome with an interior glass dome and copper-sheathed exterior, topped by a domed cupola.

Don't miss

  • Central dome with interior glass and copper-sheathed exterior, topped by a domed cupola
  • Stained-glass windows, including a cartwheel window depicting the arms of the City of Sydney
  • Arched skylights running lengthways north and south from the central dome
  • Colonnades, arches, balustrades, and cupolas in intricate Victorian style
  • Romanesque Revival design influenced by American architect Henry Hobson Richardson

Tickets & tours

Ways to visit Queen Victoria Building

You can see Queen Victoria Building on your own. A tour is worth it for the story behind it, for transport, or for combining nearby sights into one day.

Know before you go

  • The building is located at 429–481 George Street in the Sydney central business district, filling a city block bounded by George, Market, York, and Druitt streets.
  • The QVB was built between 1893 and 1898 and is a heritage-listed late-19th-century building.

A bit of history

The site has been under the control of the City of Sydney since 1842 and was previously used for municipal markets. The building was designed by Scottish architect George McRae, who emigrated to Sydney in 1884. The council chose his Romanesque design from four options. The foundation stone was laid in December 1893 by Mayor Sir William Manning, and the building opened on 21 July 1898. It was named after Queen Victoria in 1897 to commemorate her Diamond Jubilee. The building served as a marketplace but later suffered decay until its restoration in the late 20th century.

Common questions

Who designed the Queen Victoria Building?

The building was designed by Scottish architect George McRae, who emigrated to Sydney in 1884.

Why is it called the Queen Victoria Building?

In 1897, the council resolved to dedicate the new market buildings to Queen Victoria and name them The Queen Victoria Market Buildings in commemoration of her Diamond Jubilee.

What architectural style is the QVB?

It is designed in the Romanesque Revival style, specifically influenced by the Richardsonian Romanesque style of American architect Henry Hobson Richardson.

More attractions in Sydney

Planning your trip to Sydney? See where to eat, more attractions, or build a Sydney itinerary.