“Fancy a stroll through time?” I ask you as we approach the Royal Arcade. This isn’t just any shopping arcade. The Royal Arcade is the oldest surviving arcade in Australia.
Opened in 1870, it still connects Bourke Street Mall to Little Collins Street. A side offshoot runs to Elizabeth Street. For many tourists it is a must-see icon of Melbourne. It forms part of the city’s network of lanes and arcades.
Charles Webb designed this beautiful arcade. He actually won a competition back in 1868. Notice the high glass roof. See the rows of arched windows above each shop. Light floods this place.
But the real stars appeared later. In 1893, the mythical figures of Gog and Magog arrived. They flank Gaunt’s clock at the south end. These giants strike bells each hour. It’s quite a spectacle.
Gog and Magog are based on figures in London’s Guildhall. Some say they guarded the underworld. Others believe they were gods of dark spirits. Legend says their return to war will end all wars.
At the north end, you will see Father Time. He adds to the arcade’s mythical charm. Gaunt, Melbourne’s best-known clockmaker at the time, installed all of this.
Originally, the Royal Arcade ended at the south end. A Turkish Bath sat there. But in 1902, they opened it up to Little Collins Street. They created that large arched niche you see. Also in 1902, they added an extension to Elizabeth Street.
The shopfronts have changed over the years. They became bow-fronted windows in the 1890s. The black and white chequered floor appeared in 1934. In the 1920s, they removed the cast iron verandah. Thankfully, it was recreated in the 1990s.
Between 2002 and 2004, a major refurbishment took place. The 1894 shopfronts were recreated. This brought consistency back to the arcade. In c2010, they repainted the facade in yellow and white. Gilded highlights added a touch of elegance.
The Royal Arcade even set a real estate record in 1958. It sold for a whopping 541,000 pounds.
Take a moment to appreciate Gaunt’s clock. German-born Johann Friedrich Wilhelm Ziegeler made it. His skills ensure that Gog and Magog still perform their hourly ritual.
As you wander through the Royal Arcade, imagine Melbourne in the late 1800s. The sounds of the bells. The sight of Gog and Magog striking the hour. The hustle and bustle of shoppers. It is a journey through time. A beautiful, enduring slice of Melbourne’s history. The Royal Arcade is not just a place to shop. It’s a place to experience history.