Visiting the Queen Victoria Building is a great experience, especially if you love history and have a strong interest in British architecture. This National Trust site is located in Osborne House, a building which was once a home for Queen Victoria. The building has a unique collection of artifacts and memorabilia which can be seen by visitors. It also has a museum, a library, and an art gallery.
Osborne House was a home for Queen Victoria
During the reign of Queen Victoria, Osborne House was her favourite royal residence. She stayed there for up to four months a year. Osborne is located on the Isle of Wight, a coastal region that was once popular with Victorian royals.
Osborne was originally an estate of 800 acres (324 hectares) when it was purchased in 1845 by Prince Albert. It was later expanded to 5,000 acres. In 1921, the property was converted into a naval training college. A part of the grounds became the Royal Navy College, Osborne.
After Prince Albert's death in 1861, Queen Victoria spent more time at Osborne House. In the summer, she would entertain a large number of people on the lawns. She also held seances at Osborne House. She and her family would also celebrate their birthdays here.
The Art of Dr. Seuss art gallery
Located in Sydney's historic Queen Victoria Building, the Art of Dr. Seuss exhibition chronicles the life and work of the renowned children's book author and cartoonist. The works on display include illustrations, sculptures, and more. They offer a unique glimpse into Seuss's creative process.
The works featured in the exhibition were chosen by Audrey Geisel, who was responsible for selecting the pieces to be included in the estate's collection. The collection features works from the eras of the 1920s through to the 1990s, including imagery from significant public and private collections. This is an excellent opportunity to own a piece of Seuss's artistic legacy.
The art gallery also provides an opportunity to buy original works by Seuss. The shop is housed in a beautiful custom-built space and features a Seussian mural wall, Cat in the Hat lighting fixtures, a Green Eggs and Ham inspired service counter, and more. You can also purchase limited edition prints of Seuss's artwork.
Esquire Drink+Dine late night diner
Located in the historic Queen Victoria Building, Esquire Drink+Dine is a late night diner that offers authentic Australian cuisine. This upscale eatery is the latest offering from Trippas White Group, the hospitality heavyweights behind Reign and ABC Store.
Esquire's menu is a combination of contemporary Australian comfort classics and signature cocktails. They have an extensive drinks list that includes some of the world's most unique spirits. Their signature cocktail includes a Hemingway Daiquiri, which combines pineapple and rum with citrus and anejo rum.
The bar at Esquire has been described as "a New York-style supper club." The decor is a blend of old world glamour, leather and mosaic flooring. The bar features a dark oak bar and low lighting. The drinks menu is an impressive one, featuring over 100 different cocktails.
Marconi Monument
Having a look at the Marconi Monument is a good place to start. Located at the entrance to the Queen Victoria Building in Ballycastle, this is a small but eye catching structure, which contains a very neat and informative plaque. Despite being a mere pile of rocks, the plaque reveals information on some of the earliest attempts at wireless telegraphy.
The Marconi oeuvre spanned many years. The first successful experiment on Salisbury Plain in 1897, and the first demonstration of a wireless transmitter in Tonybee Hall, London, in December of the same year, both demonstrate the capabilities of the system. But who was Marconi? The Italian country gentleman is not a household name in England, where he was only 22 when he first arrived.
QVB is a National Trust site
Located on George Street, the Queen Victoria Building (QVB) is a high-Victorian sandstone structure. It is one of the grandest buildings on the mainland of Australia. This beautiful example of Romanesque revival architecture was designed by George McRae. The building was originally intended as a central marketplace.
The building contains several charming exhibits, including a life-sized replica of Queen Victoria. It is also home to a time capsule that holds a letter from Queen Elizabeth II. The letter will be opened in 2085.
The building also features several historical clocks. The Royal Automata Clock chimes every hour from 9am to 9pm. It displays six scenes of English royalty. The Great Australian Clock is a mechanical clock that displays 33 scenes of Australian history. It weighs four tonnes and is ten metres tall. The building was restored in the 1980s. The restoration required the demolition of floors and internal accretions.
