Sydney Tower

In 1994, to mark the 75th anniversary of the formation of The Institution of Engineers Australia, Sydney Division placed four plaques on significant sites around the city. These were never formally accepted as National Markers but are recorded as Engineering Heritage Items of Interest; Sydney Tower is one of them.

At 325 metres high Sydney Tower is the tallest structure in the southern hemisphere; it was opened in September 1981. Its design and construction for AMP society was conceived and executed by Australian architects (Donald Crone and Associates), engineers (Wargon Chapman and Associates) and contractors (Concrete Constructions), applying advanced technology and techniques. The entire structure was manufactured in Australia using (with some minor exceptions) Australian-made materials. The nine-storey turret which serves as a tourist and telecommunications facility is supported on the shaft and is stabilised by a mass damper tuned to prevent undesirable movement due to wind forces. The damping system was pioneered in Australia and has since been used in a number of buildings around the world. The tower was instrumental in consolidating the retail heart of the city and it symbolises the progressive spirit of Sydney.