Weekend Reflections - Jostling for supremacy

On George Street, a block down from the town hall, the old and the new jostle for supremacy. The new is represented by the concrete, glass and aluminium of the Hilton Hotel (c. 1970). The old is represented by the sandstone, glass and copper of the Queen Victoria Building (c. 1898).

You realise, of course, that those dates are meaningless as both buildings have had extensive make-overs through the years, both inside and out. The QVB maintains its original appearance more so than does the Hilton. However, inside the Hilton is the 1893 Marble Bar, which, although maintaining its 'scaffolding' has also had a nip here, and a tuck there.

That is what cities do: they metamorphose to meet the needs of commerce.


This is a Weekend Reflections contributiom.

An obese slinky

A sculpture down the stairwell of the George Street entrance to the Hilton Hotel.

And here are two more shots that I include because I listen to my readers. Yes, Joan, I liked the 'hanging gardens', too. And they made a great combination with the glass restaurant. The dome of the QVB which I showed yesterday. looms behind, and above, this restaurant.

Up with the toffs

How to make the Hilton Hotel appealing, I puzzled to myself as I negotiated the revolving door to the inner sanctum. Not my usual pasture, inner sanctums and toffs. But, here I was, at the request of Diane from Brissie. Lots of stairs and escalators in this building. You know those annoying sorts of escalators that make you walk right around to the other side to continue the 'up'. Going up four floors, I spied an outside balcony (perhaps for smokers?). Just perfect for shooting an unusual perspective of not only the Hilton but also the QVB. More tomorrow ...