Take a trip through time when you walk through Royal Arcade, a beautifully preserved Victorian shopping arcade in Melbourne’s CBD. Dating back to 1869, this architecturally stunning shopping precinct is not only a Melbourne icon, but also contains an intriguing collection of boutique fashion stores, jewellery designers and gourmet confectioners.
The heritage-listed Royal Arcade connects Bourke Street Mall to Little Collins Street, one block to the south. Make sure you check out the façade of the arcade on the Bourke Street side. Featuring gorgeous arched windows and a gold-highlighted United Kingdom coat of arms, the façade is a beautiful example of the Renaissance Revival style that continues throughout the interior.
Enter the arcade and admire the beautiful checkerboard tiling underfoot. Take in the ornate Renaissance Revival embellishments, including high arches and gold trimming. The high glass roof allows daylight to come streaming into the original Victorian-era glass shopfronts. Marvel at the arcade’s authentic refurbishment and imagine what each store would have held in the 19th century.
Today, you can find a range of eclectic fashion designers selling clothing and accessories, as well as boutique jewellers and craftspeople. A selection of confectionary and chocolate shops offer mouth-watering treats and seated dining areas.
To the south of the arcade, you’ll see the iconic effigies of Gog and Magog, two mythical characters who chime Gaunt’s clock. These characters have struck the clock every hour, on the hour, since 1892. Wait for the hour to tick over and see the giant characters chiming the clock’s bells.
Stroll all the way through to the Royal Arcade’s other opening on Little Bourke Street or take the western passage that leads to Elizabeth Street. The arcade is open daily, although some shops may have differing opening times. This destination is wheelchair accessible. Include your visit to the Royal Arcade in your journey on the Melbourne Heritage Walk, a 2-kilometre (1.2-mile) trail that heads north from Flinders Street through historic laneways and arcades to the bluestone buildings of McKillop Street.
