Royal Arcade

You’ve just entered Melbourne’s magnificent Royal Arcade. Just look at this beauty! No wonder Melbourne is often called Australia’s most European city! This is the country’s first covered passageway. It was designed in 1868 by Mr Charles Webb, an English architect who envisioned an Italianate-style gallery drawing on French and English influences. The glass roof is stunning and the stores are beautifully displayed. But the real star of the show is definitely the imposing Gaunt Clock, installed in 1893 and framed by two giant mythological figures, Gog and Magog. Every hour, the statues come alive and their mechanical arms strike the bells. Well, these guys are a bit of a mystery, as different texts, religions, and legends perceive them differently, offering their own interpretations. One thing’s for sure: they appear in Jewish, Christian and Muslim scriptures, and everyone pretty much agrees that they’re evil and associated with the Apocalypse. Gaunt, the city’s best-known clockmaker at the time, also designed the statue of Chronos at the other end of the gallery. Since its opening in 1870, the Royal arcade has been a true tourist magnet in the city. If you too are a fan, don’t miss the neighbouring Block Arcade, with its exquisite mosaic floor. Both arcades are listed as Victorian heritage sites.