Hong Kong Photo Gallery - Admiralty

Admiralty was once a military base to safeguard the Crown Colony. The navy controlled the harbourfront, and the army barracks were built uphill. Today, it is an extension of Central, with upscale shopping and office towers.

Completed in 1988, the twin-towered Lippo Centre was built by an Australian architect who wanted the facade to resemble a koala bear climbing a tree trunk.

Admiralty is a major train interchange, with a new line being built from here to the suburbs.

The Central Government Headquarters sits on what was once a military dockyard under British rule, the Tamar. In addition to government offices, there is also a nice park that stretches all the way to the harbourfront.

Further reclamation is under way to supposedly keep the harbourfront a public space. However, this small section has been cordoned off for military use.

Otherwise, it is possible to walk from here all the way to the Star Ferry's pier in Central.

The office district is also slowly moving east. Pacific Place 3 is a bit further out from the other buildings, but is connected underground through a long tunnel.

Redevelopment is also in the air. The Murray Road car park dates from the 1970s and was snapped up by Henderson Land for over HKD $23 billion in 2017. An office building designed by Zaha Hadid's firm will rise by 2022.

Uphill from Pacific Place, the Asia Society occupies the former Explosives Magazine of the Victoria Barracks. 4 British military buildings dating from the mid 19th century have survived today, with property developers not interested in demolishing them as part of the Pacific Place development in the 1980s.
The bottom part of the site is new with exhibitions and a fancy bridge leading to the historic buildings uphill.

There is plenty of open space for office workers next door to enjoy lunch, although this facility seems relatively unknown to the Central crowd.

The Laboratory was built in the 1860s for mixing explosives.

These urban markers once indicated the town limits.

Magazine A was built in the 1860s and has now been renovated into an exhibition space.

Magazine B was built in the 1900s and has separate passages on the sides and back for passage. Once used to store ammunitions, it is now a theatre.

This building is located deep in the hillside with thick reinforced walls surrounding it, likely to reduce damage if an explosion took place here.

Perched uphill from Pacific Place, the developers were not interested in tearing down the historic explosives magazine to extend the shopping mall and offices. As a result, the colonial-era military buildings that formed part of the Victoria Barracks have been retained and revitalized into Asia Society Hong Kong Center.

You enter the site through a modern museum and bar. The Joseph Lau and Josephine Lau Roof Garden is a fairly unknown space with lots of seating to enjoy lunch overlooking the city.

The British Army built a laboratory here in the 1860s to mix explosives, then subsequently built 2 magazines here to store them.

Hong Kong Gallery Main Page


Admiralty was once a military base to safeguard the Crown Colony. The navy controlled the harbourfront, and the army barracks were built uphill. Today, it is an extension of Central, with upscale shopping and office towers. Completed in 1988, the twin-towered Lippo Centre was built by an Australian architect who wanted the facade to resemble a koala bear climbing a tree trunk. Admiralty is a major train interchange, with a new line being built from here to the suburbs. The Central Government Headquarters sits on what was once a military dockyard under British rule, the Tamar. In addition to government offices, there is also a nice park that stretches all the way to the harbourfront. Further reclamation is under way to supposedly keep the harbourfront a public space. However, this small section has been cordoned off for military use. Otherwise, it is possible to walk from here all the way to the Star Ferry's pier in Central. The office district is also slowly moving east. Pacific Place 3 is a bit further out from the other buildings, but is connected underground through a long tunnel. Redevelopment is also in the air. The Murray Road car park dates from the 1970s and was snapped up by Henderson Land for over HKD $23 billion in 2017. An office building designed by Zaha Hadid's firm will rise by 2022. Uphill from Pacific Place, the Asia Society occupies the former Explosives Magazine of the Victoria Barracks. 4 British military buildings dating from the mid 19th century have survived today, with property developers not interested in demolishing them as part of the Pacific Place development in the 1980s. The bottom part of the site is new with exhibitions and a fancy bridge leading to the historic buildings uphill. There is plenty of open space for office workers next door to enjoy lunch, although this facility seems relatively unknown to the Central crowd. The Laboratory was built in the 1860s for mixing explosives. These urban markers once indicated the town limits. Magazine A was built in the 1860s and has now been renovated into an exhibition space. Magazine B was built in the 1900s and has separate passages on the sides and back for passage. Once used to store ammunitions, it is now a theatre. This building is located deep in the hillside with thick reinforced walls surrounding it, likely to reduce damage if an explosion took place here.





Perched uphill from Pacific Place, the developers were not interested in tearing down the historic explosives magazine to extend the shopping mall and offices. As a result, the colonial-era military buildings that formed part of the Victoria Barracks have been retained and revitalized into Asia Society Hong Kong Center. You enter the site through a modern museum and bar. The Joseph Lau and Josephine Lau Roof Garden is a fairly unknown space with lots of seating to enjoy lunch overlooking the city.





The British Army built a laboratory here in the 1860s to mix explosives, then subsequently built 2 magazines here to store them.