Royal Arcade, Melbourne
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Royal Arcade is a heritage shopping arcade in Melbourne, Victoria. Melbourne's Golden Mile heritage walk runs through the arcade.
It forms a short, narrow laneway, connecting Little Collins Street to Bourke Street Mall in the central business district of Melbourne. It is also connected to Elizabeth Street in the west, thus, forming a T-shaped arcade.
The arcade, which dates back to 1869, was restored between 2002-04 which resulted in additional natural light and consistency of the shopfronts.
It is a significant Victorian era arcade and is on the Victorian Heritage Register. Along with Melbourne's other arcade, the Block Arcade, and Melbourne's lanes, it is a tourist icon of the city. Royal Arcade is famous for its fashion stores as well as specialty stores such as tarot card reading store.
Originally designed by Charles Webb, the arcade features a high glass roof and windowed stores.
At the south end, the arcade features effigies of mythical figures Gog and Magog and a clock which chimes each hour.
[edit] Gallery
 Bourke Street Mall facade |
 Detail of Gog and Magog figures and clock. |
[edit] External links
| Streets of Melbourne's Hoddle Grid |
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| Latitudinal Streets West to east: Spencer • King • William • Market • Queen • Elizabeth • Swanston • Russell • Exhibition • Spring Longitudinal Streets South to north: Flinders • Flinders Lane • Collins • Little Collins • Bourke • Little Bourke • Lonsdale • Little Lonsdale • La Trobe Significant Lanes ACDC Lane • Bank Place • Bligh Place • Block Place • Causeway Lane • Centre Place • Degraves Street • Hardware Lane • Manchester Lane • McKillop Street • Punch Lane Significant Arcades Block Arcade • Campbell Arcade • Cathedral Arcade • Centreway Arcade • Howey Place • Melbourne GPO • Port Philip Arcade • Royal Arcade |
