~ Shopping In Sydney  ~

Sydney is ideal for some retail therapy — with its endless selection of boutiques, markets and malls.

Queen Victoria Building

Rich in history and architecturally splendid the Queen Victoria Building occupies an entire George Street block, and has over 180 of Sydney's finest shops, cafes and restaurants. The Grand Building, built in the 1890's was erected as a 'Municipal Market on the scale of a Cathedral'. After many years of neglect the QVB was beautifully restored by IPOH Limited and re-opened in 1986. It has quickly become Sydney's' most popular and prestigious shopping centre. The Queen Victoria Walk (or LGI) leads into QVB Walk, which has recently been converted from eateries to a mixture of retail outlets some eateries and services shopping. The Grand Walk on the ground floor, elaborately tiled with arches and galleries overhead, features well-known fashion shops and coffee bars. The ornate galleries of Gallery one on level one houses speciality boutiques selling international and Australian designs, jewellery boutiques, hairdresser and cafe/restaurants. The second floor, gallery two, sits under the glass barrelled roof with an amazing array of antique, art, duty free, opal, Australian craft shops. Sydney's finest bridal boutiques are also found on this floor. Special attractions include the Royal Clock, a unique, 6-metre long timepiece built in the shape of Balmoral Castle by the Queen's clockmaker and the keeper of 'Big Ben' in London. Replicas of the crown jewels created by the crown jeweller's craftsmen, can also be seen on the top gallery. The Victoria Walk features a wax model of Queen Victoria dressed in full coronation regalia and sitting on an Ornate Chair. Copies of Royal paintings as well as a handwritten letter by Queen Elizabeth to the people of Sydney are also on display. Also on the Victoria Walk is the life size Jade Wedding Carriage - over 1 ton of intricately carved jade, the only one of its kind in the world, two life like models wearing traditional Chinese wedding robes, dated 1840 - of the Ching Dynasty - the last dynasty. ** Function rooms: The Victoria rooms located on the Town Hall end of the building are rooms ideally suited to art and craft exhibitions and small cocktail functions and Seminars. It also has an outdoor courtyard.  Queen Victoria Building Historic and Informative Tours: Daily tours of the Queen Victoria Building, called Gaslight to Satellite. The tours are given by qualified QVB Tour Guides. Tours depart from the Information Desk, Ground Floor at 11.30am and 2.30pm Monday to Saturday and 12.00pm and 2.30pm on Sunday. The tour takes about 50 minutes to an hour and offer a guided tour with commentary for groups of approximately 12 persons. Group, evening and special language tours by arrangement. The commentary tells the story of the building, from the concept in the 1890's through the trading difficulties after World War II. The demolition threats and the support from the heritage society, architectural society, individuals and the final reprieve in 1981. To the restoration, by IPOH Ltd (Australia) into the modern and exciting shopping centre it is today. Night Tours: These tours cost $25.00 per person - includes a regular tour with the opportunity of accessing the inner and outer dome by spiral staircases - to walk around the outside of the grand dome and view the famous McIntosh marble statues situated above both the George and York Street entrances, commissioned by the City Council in 1887 twice life size, made from Carrara marble in Italy they were representative of an emerging nation. After the tour Champagne and savouries are served under the grand dome in the most illustrious of settings accompanied by a duet of piano and violin.

Shopping Highlights Of The Sydney Cbd

Along Market Street you will find Graces Bros, David Jones and Gowings. Pitt Street Mall includes Skygarden, Glasshouse, Sydney Central Plaza, Centrepoint Tower and The Strand Arcade.... Elizabeth and Castlereagh Streets between Park Street and Martin Place is where you will most of the international designer stores. Including Bvlgari, Cartier, Makers Mark, Paspaley Perals, Percy Marks, Emporio Armani, Giorgio Armani, Gucci, Hermes, R.M. Williams, DKNY, Ferragamo and Stefano Canturi.... While King Street offers Louis Vuitton, Hugo Boss, Ajx Armani Exchange, Bally and Country Road.... Chifley Plaza: World famous stores, Tiffany & Co, MaxMara, Bruno, Magli, Replay, Pancaldi 1888 and Crabtree & Evelyn, R.M. Williams and Orton. Website: http://www.chifleyplaza.com.au .... David Jones offers a comprehensive range of leading Australian and international brands such as Bvlgari, Armani Collezioni, Jil Sander, Collette Dinnigan, Chanel and Christian Dior just to name a few. Cnr Elizabeth & Market Streets and Cnr Castlereagh & Market Streets. Website: http://www.davidjones.com.au .... MLC Centre: has over 56 stores appealing to the Sydney traveller. Whether you are looking for gifts or international brand retailers, as well as a food court and restaurants. Cnr King & Castlereagh Streets.... Gowings has long long been one of those places for men that always has exactly what you need, in their size and at the right price. Cnr Market & George Streets....

Harbourside Shopping Centre

Right at the waters edge, Harbourside Shopping Centre at Sydney's Darling Harbour offers enticing dining and shopping. Harbourside is adding further leisure and shopping attractions with an authentic contemporary Australian Spirit. Among the new attractions is the Ettamogah Bar and Restaurant, based on the cartoon character created by Ken Maynard, which provides a unique experience in dining. Another attraction is Gavala, Sydney's only Aboriginal owned and operated Cultural Centre. Movies you ride is a major Hollywood thrill ride attraction. Harbourside offers enticing dining at a variety of waterfront restaurants. Or try a choice of casual food outlets offering delicious takeaway cuisine. There are a variety of ways to get to Harbourside, walk across the Pyrmont Bridge from the city, arrive by ferry, water taxi, bush monorail or the new light rail. Harbourside is more than just a shopping destination. Restaurants include: Jordon's Seafood Restaurant (02) 9281 3711 Jo Jo's Harbourside (02) 9281 3888 Sofram Middle Eastern Grill (02) 9280 1739 Ettamogah Bar and Restaurant (02) 9281 3922

Market City

Sydney' most vibrant and unique shopping centre located in the heart of Chinatown, famous for affordable designer fashion with over 30 factory clearance outlets. For the fashion elite, level one houses Sydney's funkiest streetware fashion. To tempt your taste buds, restaurants, cafes, gourmet food specialists and food court with licensed bar offer cuisine from all over the world. Housing over 100-retail shops including Australia's largest Yum Cha restaurant, Market City has it all and more

Drummoyne: Across Iron Cove from Balmain, the shopping precinct at Birkenhead Point Outlet Centre offers fashion, homewares, gifts and some great seconds outlets for the bargain hunters, including Country Road, David Jones warehouse, R.M. Williams, Timberland, Royal Doulton, Waterford Wedgwood, Orrefors Kosta Boda, FILA and Oroton to name a few. There are also several good restaurants and waterfront bistros with relaxed atmosphere.

Double Bay

Double Bay is the place to visit for fine fashion boutiques, a vibrant cafe society and beautiful people. Surrounded by Sydney Harbour, open parks, tree-lined boulevards and grand residential homes, this vibrant retail precinct is renowned for its cosmopolitan cafe society, exclusive boutiques, and European ambience. With its harbourside location Double Bay is easy to get to by ferry, bus and train, or by car with easy access parking. A regular ferry service runs to Double Bay via some of Sydney Harbour's most exclusive suburbs.

Quirky Specialist Stores

Sydney is blessed with Newtown, a cosmopolitan neighbourhood where professors and students, the upwardly mobile and the down at heel, gay and straight, migrant and middle class, wealth and welfare, suits and spikes share a successful experiment in the new globalism. Newtown is the impact point where the University of Sydney collides with the University of Life. Newtown's energetic 24-hour street life attracts visitors to its eccentric speciality stores, intriguing antique and artisan showrooms, new and recycled clothing stores, cafes, restaurants, theatres and pubs. Eating in Newtown is a choice amongst more than 20 affordable ethnic cuisine's in 70 restaurants ranging from a quick African feast to non-smoking, non-drinking, 100% vegetarian