Owner abandons plans to scrap the QVB’s stained-glass windows

The owners of the Queen Victoria Building have scrapped a controversial plan to replace the building’s multicoloured glass windows with clear panes after a public backlash.

In December, Vicinity Centres – the country’s second-largest retail landlord and co-owner of the QVB – lodged a development application with the City of Sydney seeking to replace the multicoloured glass on the Market Street ground-floor shopfronts with clear glass.

The move sparked anger in the community over concerns it would damage the heritage character of the iconic building if the application were approved by the council’s planning panel.

All 1755 public submissions the council received rejected the proposal. Planning staff also advised Vicinity they would not support removing the windows as it would create an “unacceptable precedent and be of very little benefit to the tenant”.

On Wednesday night, the retail giant quietly withdrew its development application before the exhibition period, accepting public submissions were slated to end on February 6.

“We have listened carefully to community sentiment and recognise the strong connection many people have to this treasured icon and the importance placed on its historic character,” a Vicinity spokesperson told the Herald.

“As responsible custodians, we take that feedback seriously and remain committed to preserving the QVB’s heritage. This decision reflects Vicinity’s commitment to act proactively, decisively, and respectfully in the best interests of the QVB and the broader community.

“We have withdrawn the application to ensure the QVB continues to be celebrated, protected and enjoyed for generations to come.”

The stained-glass windows Vicinity sought to replace in its application were refurbished in the 1980s, a reconstruction of the original neo-romanesque sandstone building that was opened in 1898.

Artists who, decades ago, cut by hand thousands of pieces of glass for the refurbishment said the push to alter the building greatly saddened them.

Before backflipping, Vicinity Centres said in its proposal that the coloured glass created a “significant economic burden” to landlords and reduced the attractiveness and value of the space to prospective retailers, pointing to millions of dollars in lost revenue.

It also argued that the coloured glass obscured views from the street, and that installing clear glass would provide clearer views into shops and highlight their double-height spaces.

The City of Sydney’s planning portal has since been updated, and progress timelines on their website show the development application has been withdrawn.

Lord Mayor Clover Moore welcomed the reversal, and said she was glad the owners had listened: “This is one of our most important, treasured heritage buildings. As the city around it changes, it remains as a bold and significant piece of public infrastructure and an important layer of both our architectural history and cultural fabric.”

Deputy Lord Mayor Jess Miller said it was a “real win for the planning process” and for the community.

“It’s so important that we take good care of these gorgeous heritage buildings, and this is a really exciting outcome,” Miller said.

Vicinity Centres acquired the QVB in 2018 and co-owns the building with Link REIT. They also own a raft of other shopping centres across the country, from Chatswood Chase and The Strand Arcade in Sydney, to Chadstone and the Emporium in Melbourne.

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