Monday 10 October 2011

Texture - Sydney sandstone


The QVB (Queen Victoria Building) was built during the 1880s. It has endured a number of incarnations over the following 120 years (vegetable market, government offices, upmarket retail) and quite a few make-overs, bordering on face-lifts. It is currently undergoing another scrubbing. It is all the rage apparently. The State Library has been cleaned. Central Station clock-tower is being cleaned. A sandstone-led recovery from recession, perhaps.

But, get a look at this workmanship! Run a virtual finger over those sandstone-swirls.

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

Gorgeous... our modern skyscrapers may be sleek, but for art's sake, I say these Victorian beauties are winners!

Windsmoke. said...

The craftmanship in these older buildings is superb which is sadly lacking in today's glass and concrete monstrosities :-).

Vicki said...

Such incredible craftsmanship and amazing detail. A lost art methinks.

Jim said...

Truly beautiful work in sandstone.

cara said...

Beautiful!

Ann said...

Its a beautiful building. They're doing something with the dome as part of Art & About. Must check when it is.

Peter said...

Beautiful detail closeups, it is a grand building.

Mark said...

QVB is easily my favourite downtown building. I remember going in there before it was 'done up'but I think they did a great job all those years ago. Those copper domes and sandstone are just fantastic. Thanks for the shots, they capture it really well.

Joe said...

Thanks for bringing the QV building up close. She is a beauty. I have visited this building and you have done it justice. Love the perspective and symmetry of the top photo.

Joan Elizabeth said...

Oh wow .. I have not taken in the level of detail before this.

PerthDailyPhoto said...

The QVB is one of my favourite places to visit when I'm in Sydney, you've done her proud Julie.

Halcyon said...

A fantastic building with great details!

Anonymous said...

The QVB is so beautiful. I walked through it this evening when it was almost empty, and the floors were freshly mopped so the tiles sparkled. So splendid, though it always seems to make me feel a little melancholy. Thank you for these photos.

Stafford Ray said...

The QVB is lovely but I always wonder how there seemed to be money to pay for such exquisite workmanship back then. The Town Hall is another repository of amazing sandstone adornment! Great photos as usual.