Apple Store - Sydney, Australia: A brief tour

I had the pleasure of visiting Apple’s first retail store in Australia when it opened in Sydney on Thursday 19th of June 2008 - and boy, what a store it is!

Decked out on three elaborate levels containing ‘everything-Apple’, it was a geek’s ultimate night out in the Sydney CBD! The atmosphere was spectacular to say the least: bright lights, free Internet and of course the now-famous, Applesque glass-staircase.

Apple's legendary staircase

What never ceases to amaze me is the amount of detail and attention Apple places on it’s products - the humble iPod, iPhone, Macbook Pro, Macbook Air, and obviously the ‘hot’ Cinema Displays. However, the crowning achievement of the night was definitely the amazing architecture, design and ambiance of the store itself!

I was lost for words when even the walls themselves were adorned with a shiny, ‘Macbook Pro-like’ feel to them. Yep, no white paint here at all. Everything was where it was supposed to be - any doors were recessed as to not look ‘out of place’ and even the lifts screamed Apple! It was definitely an awe-inspiring moment or two.

A monumental apple hung from the ceiling of the interior leaving passers-by with no need to guess what stood before their eyes.

For those who have not yet been or cannot make it - here is the run-down of what you can find on the three levels.

Apple Store Sydney Level One (Ground Floor)

This floor is filled with every Apple computer you can find under the sun! From Mac Mini to iMac, Macbook, Macbook Pro, Macbook Air, Mac Pro and Mac Cinema Displays [Phew, that was a mouthful!] as well as housing some software.

Apple Store Sydney Level Two

This floor is filled with everything iPod and home-entertainment. From Apple TV to every current generation iPod; including the iPod Shuffle, iPod Nano, Classic iPod and of course the iPod Touch. You can also find the Apple Hi-Fi on this floor and a range of other iPod Hi-Fi systems from Bose, Belkin, Sony and more. This is the level that also houses pretty much all software and even hardware you can buy for your Macs, ranging from ‘The Sims II’ game to the Mac Air’s Superdrive and laptop bags.

Apple Store Sydney Level Three

This floor holds more computers and cinema screens as well as the renowned Genius Bar, which has finally made its way to Sydney! Here you can get help with almost anything-Mac from Mac experts, as well as ask questions ranging from how much money the ‘Genius’ thinks Steve Jobs raked up last financial year, to ‘What is automation in Mac OS X?’ Also on this floor free one-on-one training sessions are run ranging from ‘How to use your new Mac’ to an ‘Introduction to iLife’.

If nothing else, the view from this floor alone of down-town George Street is crazy!

Overall, I found the new Apple Store, Sydney - which as a little tid-bit is the second biggest Apple Store world-wide; to be a man-made design marvel. Not only was it pretty on the outside, but the interior design is strictly Apple in all senses of the word! I mean even the tables were gorgeous - and believe me when I say that office furniture generally doesn’t do anything for me!

You’d have to be gobsmacked not to feel a sense of achievement that Apple would have felt upon completion of this masterpiece in all its forms; inside and out.

If sales from the first three days of operation are anything to go by (let’s just say they can close down for another year and still be profitable!), then this store is really going to be crowning achievement of Apple’s time in Australia.

Looking forward to seeing how the next one to open in Chatswood is going to look, but for now - Geeks beware! There’s a new place to hang out!

Check it out for yourself:

Store hours:

Mon - Wed, Fri, Sat: 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Thu: 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Sun: 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Genius Bar:

Mon - Wed, Fri, Sat:

7:00 a.m. - 9:00pm

Thu:

7:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.

Sun:

9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Till next time!

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