Black Mountain Tower
| Telstra Tower | |
|---|---|
Telstra Tower in 2009
|
|
| Alternative names | Black Mountain Tower |
| General information | |
| Type | Observation and communications tower |
| Location | Canberra, Australia |
| Coordinates | 35°16′32.11″S 149°05′52.14″E / 35.2755861°S 149.0978167°ECoordinates: 35°16′32.11″S 149°05′52.14″E / 35.2755861°S 149.0978167°E |
| Opening | 15 May 1980 |
| Cost | $16.3 million |
| Height | |
| Antenna spire | 195.2 m (640 ft) |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 3 |
| Design and construction | |
| Main contractor | Concrete Constructions |
Telstra Tower (also known as Black Mountain Tower and formerly Telecom Tower) is a telecommunications tower and lookout that is situated above the summit of Black Mountain in Australia's capital city of Canberra. Rising 195.2 metres (640 ft) above the mountain summit, it is a landmark in Canberra and offers panoramic views of the city and its surrounding countryside from an indoor observation deck and two outdoor viewing platforms.
In April 1970, the Postmaster General (PMG) at the time commissioned the Commonwealth Department of Housing and Construction to carry out a feasibility study in relation to a tower on Black Mountain accommodating both communication services and facilities for visitors. The tower was to replace the microwave relay station on Red Hill and the television broadcast masts already on Black Mountain.
Design of the tower was the responsibility of the Department of Housing and Construction, however a conflict arose with the National Capital Development Commission which, at the time, had complete control over planning within the Australian Capital Territory.
During the approval process of the tower, protests arose on aesthetic and ecological grounds. Some people felt that the tower would dominate other aesthetic Canberra structures due to its location above Black Mountain and within a nature reserve. A case was brought before the High Court of Australia arguing that the Federal Government did not have the constitutional power to construct the tower (Johnson v Kent (1975) 132 CLR 164). The decision was made in favour of the government and construction was able to commence.
William Roy, at the time in charge of Canberra ABC radio and television transmitters, was employed to supervise the installation of technical equipment in the Tower and became its first Principal Technical Officer.
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