Royal Arcade
331-339 Bourke Street, Melbourne 3000.
Summary:
- Constructed in 1869.
- Designed by Charles Webb .
- Listed on the Victorian Heritage Register (no 600454).
Building Description:
The Royal Arcade is a Melbourne landmark, not just because it is one of Melbourne's most popular shopping arcade (the other being Block Arcade), but because of Gaunt's clock and the two figures of Gog and Magog, which were installed at the southern end of the Arcade in 1892. Gog and Magog form part of an entirely mechanical clock that rings its bells every hour.
Royal Arcade is the oldest surviving retail arcade in Australia and is very well preserved. The glass roof over the centre walkway is a special feature worthy of mention. Several of the storefronts were altered but almost all have now been restored to original condition.
Part of the caption under Gog and Magog reads as follows:
"These two 7 feet (approx 1.3 metres) giants have been striking the time on GAUNT'S clock since 1892. They are carved from clear pine and modelled on the figures erected in Guildhall, London, in 1703 to symbolise the conflict between the ancient Britons and the Trojan invaders."
The Royal Arcade is a Melbourne landmark, not just because it is one of Melbourne's most popular shopping arcade (the other being Block Arcade), but because of Gaunt's clock and the two figures of Gog and Magog, which were installed at the southern end of the Arcade in 1892. Gog and Magog form part of an entirely mechanical clock that rings its bells every hour.
Royal Arcade is the oldest surviving retail arcade in Australia and is very well preserved. The glass roof over the centre walkway is a special feature worthy of mention. Several of the storefronts were altered but almost all have now been restored to original condition.
Part of the caption under Gog and Magog reads as follows:
"These two 7 feet (approx 1.3 metres) giants have been striking the time on GAUNT'S clock since 1892. They are carved from clear pine and modelled on the figures erected in Guildhall, London, in 1703 to symbolise the conflict between the ancient Britons and the Trojan invaders."
