Queen Victoria Building – QVBBarrel Vault Roof Cartwheel Window The Great Australian Clock Royal Clock

This is the world’s largest hanging Animated Turret Clock, created over a 4 year period by clockmaker Chris Cook and arriving in June 2000 for installation in the Queen Victoria Building, at a cost of more than $1.5 million dollars.

It tells the story of Australia from both the Aboriginal and white perspectives.

Weighing 4 tonnes and standing 10 metres tall, there are 32 smaller clocks displaying major city times, 27 paintings, 33 picture scenes and approximately 131 individual hand carved figurines. The dome is coated in 23 carat gold as are the doors and numerals.

There use to be a coin donation box that is near the clock. If you drop a 2 x $2 coin donation into the slot in the forehead of the mahogany Labrador that sits in front the clock, onlookers can activate a two minute animation of the top canopy carousel. All monies collected will be donated for the training of guide dogs.

Great Australian Clock, Queen Victoria Building, Sydney NSW
Great Australian Clock, Queen Victoria Building, Sydney NSW
Great Australian Clock, Queen Victoria Building, Sydney NSW
Great Australian Clock, Queen Victoria Building, Sydney NSW
Great Australian Clock, Queen Victoria Building, Sydney NSW
Great Australian Clock, Queen Victoria Building, Sydney NSW
Great Australian Clock, Queen Victoria Building, Sydney NSW
Great Australian Clock, Queen Victoria Building, Sydney NSW

Footnote & References

  1. The QVB’s Great Australian Clock, 5 May 2018, History of Sydney, unveiling Sydney’s hidden past, https://historyofsydney.com.au/great-australian-clock/
  2. Queen Victoria Building, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen_Victoria_Building

Queen Victoria Building – QVBBarrel Vault Roof Cartwheel Window The Great Australian Clock Royal Clock

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