Queen Victoria Building, Sydney, Australia

The Queen Victoria Building, now know as the QVB, was designed by George McRae and completed in 1868. It replace the original markets that were on the site. It was built as a monument to Queen Victoria during a time of recession in Sydney. The Romanesque architecture was specially designed to employ the craftsmen of the time. The QVB fills an entire city block. It was remodeled in the 1930's and threatened with demolition in 1959. It is now filled with shops and is perhaps the grandest building in Sydney.

These stained glass windows are over one of the entrances to the building. The dominant feature of the building is a large dome but I didn't get a picture of it.





There are 3 large clocks in the building, one in the middle and one on each end.

This is the most interesting clock in the building. It is the Great Australian clock and weights 4 tonnes and is 10 meters tall. The dioramas include 33 scenes from Australian history. Everything revolves in a circle. If you look closely on the right side you can see an Aboriginal hunter who revolves around the clock and represents the never-ending passage of time. The various sections indicate the time, day of the week, and date. I spent a lot of time watching things move. It is very fascinating.

And here is the queen herself, prominently displayed in a glass cabinet on the second level.

If you have a fear of heights, don't climb these stairs!

New Zealand waterfalls

I thought you might enjoy looking at some cool waterfalls during this hot summer weather. Please excuse the bus window reflections in the first 2 photos.

These were taken at the Chasms on the road from Te Anau to Milford Sound.



The following are pictures of Stirling Falls on Milford Sound.

New Zealand flora

You have probably heard what a beautiful place New Zealand is. Following are some of the reasons.

This is a typical backyard in Christchurch! The Avon flows in front of it and one of the pastimes in the area is punting on the Avon. Christchurch is known as the most English city in New Zealand

This is the Futuro house. Finnish architect Matti Surronen designed and built 96 of these ovaloid flying-saucer like houses in the 1960's. This one happens to have landed in the Christchurch Botanical Gardens.