| Sydney Tower | |
|---|---|
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 Interactive map of Sydney Tower | |
| Alternative names | Westfield Tower Centrepoint Tower |
| General information | |
| Type | Observation and communications tower |
| Location | Sydney, Australia |
| Coordinates | 33°52′13″S151°12′32″E / 33.8704°S 151.2089°E /-33.8704; 151.2089 |
| Construction started | 1970 (office building) 1975 (tower) |
| Completed | 1981 |
| Opened | 25 September 1981; 44 years ago (1981-09-25) |
| Cost | A$36 million |
| Owner | Scentre Group |
| Management | Trippas White Group Merlin Entertainments |
| Height | |
| Antenna spire | 309 m (1,014 ft)[1] |
| Roof | 268 m (879 ft): Sydney Tower Skywalk |
| Top floor | 250 m (820 ft): Observation deck (Sydney Tower Eye) |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 4 |
| Lifts/elevators | 3 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architects | Donald Crone & Associates |
| Developer | AMP |
| Main contractor | Concrete Constructions |
| Website | |
| www | |
Sydney Tower, also known as theSydney Tower Eye,Westfield Tower and formerly albeit still commonly asCentrepoint Tower, is anobservation andtelecommunicationstower that is the tallest structure inSydney,New South Wales,Australia, as well as the second-tallest observation tower in theSouthern Hemisphere. Sydney Tower has also previously been known asAMP Tower.[2][3]
The tower stands 309 m (1,014 ft) above theSydney central business district (CBD), located onMarket Street, betweenPitt andCastlereagh Streets. It is accessible from thePitt Street Mall, Market Street or Castlereagh Street and sits above theWestfield Sydney (formerly Centrepoint) shopping centre. The tower is open to the public, and is one of the most prominenttourist attractions in the city, being visible from a number of vantage points throughout town and from adjoining suburbs.[4][5]Auckland'sSky Tower is taller but Sydney Tower's mainobservation deck is almost 30 m (98 ft) higher than the observation deck on Auckland's Sky Tower.
While the shopping centre at the base of the tower is run by theScentre Group, the tower itself is occupied by Trippas White Group, which owns and operates Sydney Tower Dining, andMerlin Entertainments, which owns and operates the Sydney Tower Eye observation deck and outside adventure experience known as the SKYWALK.
Designed by Australian architect Donald Crone, the first plans for Sydney Tower were unveiled in March 1968. Construction of the office building started in 1970, and tower construction began in 1975. Prior to construction of the tower, the height limit in Sydney had been set at 279 m (915 ft), to allow for the harbour'sflying boats that were popular before the jet era.[6] It was developed byAMP, withConcrete Constructions the main contractor.[7]
Public access to the tower began on 25 September 1981.[8] The total cost of construction was A$36million.[6] In 1998, the addition of alightning rod to the top of spire extended the tower's overall height from 305 metres to 309 m (1,014 ft), which is 327 m (1,073 ft)above sea level.[9]
While AMP managed the Centrepoint shopping centre, the tower was officially referred to as the AMP Tower. After theWestfield Group took over ownership of Centrepoint in December 2001, the name was changed to Sydney Tower.[10][11]
In 2009, the base building was closed and stripped for a major refurbishment. This involved the connection of the shopping centre to other arcades and a complete upgrade of all the sites. The shopping centre was progressively reopened from 2010 and was renamedWestfield Sydney. In June 2011 the AMP banner was removed by helicopter from the tower and replaced by a large illuminated Westfield logo.[12]
In 2011,Merlin Entertainments acquired the rights to operate the observation deck, renaming the attraction the Sydney Tower Eye.[13][14]
Four sections of the tower are open to the public, three being occupied by Sydney Tower Dining.[15] 360 Bar and Dining, which offers revolving views of the Sydney skyline, is located on level one of the Sydney Tower.[16] Sydney Tower Buffet, a contemporary self-select restaurant, is on the tower's second level.[17] Studio, located on level three can cater for cocktail functions for 200 people and 156 sit-down guests.[18]
The observation deck, currently called the Sydney Tower Eye, is located on level four of Sydney Tower. To access this level, visitors can buy a pass from the operating company or at the gate. The pass allows access to other Sydney attractions includingWild Life Sydney and theSydney Aquarium.[19] The Sydney Tower Eye is located 250 m (820 ft) above ground level. It has a fully enclosed viewing platform featuring 360-degree views of the city and surrounding areas.[20] This floor also houses a small gift shop,multilingualtouchscreens[20] and a readout that displays data about the wind speed, direction, sway amplitude, and other statistics of the tower. On 23 September 2011, a4Dcinema was opened on the fourth floor of the arcade, playing a film with footage from various locations in Sydney.[21] The theatre is the first of its kind in Australia; in-theatre effects include wind, bubbles, and fire.[22]
Skywalk is an open-air glass-floored platform encircling the Sydney Tower Eye at a height of 268 m (879 ft) above ground level.[23] The viewing platform extends over the edge of the main structure of the deck.[24] It was opened on 18 October 2005, costA$3.75 million to construct, took four years to design and two months to build. This platform is only accessible as part of planned and booked tours.[8]
The golden turret near the top of the tower has a maximum capacity of 960 people.[25] Travel to the observation deck is by three high speeddouble-deck lifts, each with a capacity of 8 to 10 people. The lifts travel at full, half or quarter speed, depending on wind conditions. At full speed the lifts reach the deck in 45 seconds.[26]
Leading up to theSydney 2000 Olympics, the tower was decorated with sculptures by Australian artist Dominique Sutton (an athlete rising from starting blocks, a gymnast performing a handstand, and a wheelchair basketball player passing the ball) which were positioned above the main body of the tower and in some cases overhung the edges. These sculptures were removed in 2002 and relocated toSydney Olympic Park atHomebush Bay.[27] The figures were placed atop the tower using anS-64 Aircrane heavy lift helicopter known as"Elvis".
On several occasions, the tower has been used to launchfireworks or it has been illuminated with coloured lights as part of various celebrations in Sydney, such as New Year's Eve or during the Olympics in 2000.
Each year the Sydney Tower Stair Challenge comprises the challenge of running up 1,504 stairs fromPitt Street Mall to the Observation Deck.[28] The event is to raise money for theCancer Council, and the two winners become eligible to compete in theEmpire State Building Run-up.[28] However, the event was cancelled in both 2011[29] and 2012.[30]
On 8 March 2018, the Skywalk was closed for five weeks following the suicide of a 21-year-old woman who removed her safety harness and leapt from the tower while on a tour. The Skywalk reopened on 12 April 2018, after conducting a probe into the incident and the tower having upgraded the safety equipment.[31][32]
The second suicide took place on 8 July that same year. Leonard Nherera, 18, jumped 268 metres to his death from the Skywalk tour at 7pm.[33]
The tower received an Engineering Heritage Plaque fromEngineers Australia as part of itsEngineering Heritage Recognition Program.[34]
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