Sydney
Tower (formerly known as the AMP Tower,
AMP Centrepoint Tower, Centrepoint Tower
or just Centrepoint) is Sydney's tallest
free-standing structure, and the second
tallest in Australia (with the Q1 building
on the Gold Coast being the tallest).
It is also the second tallest observation
tower in the Southern Hemisphere (after
Auckland's Sky Tower); though Sydney Tower's
main observation deck is almost 50 metres
higher than that of Auckland's Sky Tower.
The tower stands 305 metres above the
central business district, it is located
at 120 Market Street, between Pitt and
Castlereagh Streets, accessible from the
Pitt Street Mall, and sits upon Centrepoint
(to which the tower is often referred),
an office building and shopping centre.
The tower is open to the public, and is
one of the most prominent tourist attractions
in the city, being visible from a number
of vantage points throughout town and
from adjoining suburbs.
The
top of Sydney Tower viewed from Hyde Park.Construction
of the office building commenced in 1970,
and tower construction began in 1975.
Public access to the tower began in September
1981. The total cost of construction was
$36 million. Three sections of the tower
are open to public access: The observation
deck at 250 metres above ground level;
a fully-enclosed viewing platform featuring
360 degree views of the city and surrounds.
This floor also features a small gift
shop, a readout displaying data on the
conditions of the tower (wind speed, direction
and sway amplitude). Skywalk platform
at 268 metres above ground level; an open-air
viewing platform only accessible as part
of planned and booked tours. Two revolving
restaurants, one à la carte and
one buffet. Leading up to the Sydney 2000
Olympics, the tower was decorated with
sculptures of athletes, which were positioned
above the main body of the tower and in
some cases overhung the edges. These sculptures
were removed in 2003 and relocated to
the site of the games, Homebush. The figures
were placed atop the tower using an Erickson
S-64 Aircrane heavy lift helicopter known
as "Elvis".
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