A proposal to remove the coloured-glass tiles from Sydney’s Queen Victoria Building (QVB) has drawn criticism from Business Sydney chief executive Paul Nicolaou, who says boosting city vibrancy, not altering heritage features, should be the priority.
Cracknell and Lonergan Architects has lodged a development application to the City of Sydney to replace the stained-glass windows with clear panels at an estimated cost of $121,000, arguing the existing glass limits visibility for retailers and causes lost income.
Partial landowner Vicinity said the stained glass, installed in the 1980s, was not “entirely faithful” to the original 1898 shopfronts and posed a “significant economic burden.”
However, Nicolaou told The Daily Telegraph he was not convinced the windows, in place for about 40 years, had suddenly become a barrier to trade.
Instead, he said retailers, hospitality venues and cultural institutions should collaborate on initiatives to encourage longer city visits.
“In-store events, late-night trading, pop-up activations, live music, author talks, tastings and exclusive product launches give people a reason to leave home and choose the city over online shopping,” he said.
“The CBD needs to feel vibrant, safe and alive, particularly after 5pm.”
He added that if the city became more active, “any thoughts about changing the appearance of an iconic heritage building would quickly recede into the background,” calling the QVB “a superb example of a heritage building gracefully restored and repurposed for a new commercial life.”
The development application, currently under NSW Heritage Council review, has prompted strong public opposition and will now be determined by the Local Planning Panel after a high volume of submissions. It remains open for feedback until February 6.
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