| Telkom Joburg Tower | |
|---|---|
Hillbrow Tower | |
 Hillbrow Tower in 2013. | |
 Interactive map of Telkom Joburg Tower | |
| Record height | |
| Tallest in Africa from 1971 to 2021[I] | |
| Surpassed by | Iconic Tower |
| General information | |
| Status | Completed |
| Type | Radio tower |
| Location | Hillbrow,Johannesburg, South Africa |
| Coordinates | 26°11′13″S28°2′57″E / 26.18694°S 28.04917°E /-26.18694; 28.04917 |
| Construction started | 1968[1] |
| Completed | 1971[1] |
| Opening | 1971; 54 years ago (1971)[1] |
| Cost | $10,000,000 |
| Owner | Telkom (South Africa)[2] |
| Height | |
| Antenna spire | 269 m (883 ft) |
| Top floor | 204 m (669 ft) |
| Technical details | |
| Lifts/elevators | 3 |
| References | |
| [1][2][3][4] | |
TheHillbrow Tower (officially theTelkom Joburg Tower, and formerlyJG Strijdom Tower) is a talltower located in the suburb ofHillbrow inJohannesburg, South Africa. At 269 m (883 ft), it was thetallest tower inAfrica for 50 years, until it was surpassed in 2021 by the 393.8 m (1,292 ft)Iconic Tower in Egypt'sNew Administrative Capital, as well as the continent'stallest structure for eleven years, until overtaken by theNador transmitter inMorocco; it remained Africa's tallest free-standing structure for two more years until overtaken by the chimney of theSasol III Steam Plant in 1984. For seven years it was also the tallest structure in theSouthern Hemisphere until 1978, when surpassed by the 270 mMount Isa Chimney inQueensland,Australia. It remains the tallesttelecommunications tower in Africa. Construction of the tower began in June 1968 and was completed three years later, in April 1971. Construction cost 2 millionrand[1] (at the time,US$2.8 million). The tower was initially known as theJG Strijdom Tower, afterJG (Hans) Strijdom,South African Prime Minister from 1954 to 1958. On 31 May 2005 it was renamed theTelkom Joburg Tower.[3]
The tower was constructed for South African Posts & Telecommunications, which later becameTelkom,[4] South Africa's government-run and largesttelecommunications company. As the general height of buildings rose in thecentral business district, it became necessary that the height of the new telecommunications tower stayed above the height of the buildings surrounding it.[1][2]
The Hillbrow Tower has been closed to visitors since 1981, primarily for security reasons. Before the closure, the Hillbrow tower was one of the largest tourist draws in Johannesburg. The public was able to enter six public floors at the top of the tower. One of the floors housed a popularrevolving restaurant named "Heinrich's Restaurant" and a discotheque named "Cloud 9" as well as another non-rotating restaurant known as "the Grill Room" and the observation floor which was at 197 m height.[5]
During the2010 FIFA World Cup, a hugefootball was fitted to the tower to celebrate the event. In 2013, television programmeCarte Blanche broadcast from what used to be the revolving restaurant.
The Hillbrow Tower is one of two iconic towers that are often used to identify the Johannesburg skyline. The second tower, theSentech Tower (old Albert Hertzog Tower), is used for television and radio transmissions.[1][2][3][4]
| Records | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Tallest structure in South Africa 269 m (883 ft) 1971 – 1984 | Succeeded by Chimney ofSasol III Steam Plant |
| Tallest free-standing structure in Africa 269 m (883 ft) 1971 – 1984 | ||
| Tallest structure in Africa 269 m (883 ft) 1971 – 1982 | Succeeded by | |
| Tallest tower in Africa 269 m (883 ft) 1971 – 2021 | Succeeded by | |
| Tallest telecommunications tower in Africa 269 m (883 ft) 1971 – present | Incumbent | |
