Type Shot tower Country Australia Diameter 10-3.9 metres Height 48 m Inaugurated 8 September 1870 Architect Joseph Moir | Location Taroona, Tasmania. Owner Tasmanian government Material Sandstone Phone +61 3 6227 8885 Construction started 1870 | |
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Address Channel Hwy, Taroona TAS 7053, Australia Hours Closed now Sunday10AM–4PMMonday10AM–4PMTuesday10AM–4PMWednesday10AM–4PMThursday10AM–4PMFriday10AM–4PMSaturday10AM–4PMSuggest an edit Similar Richmond Gaol, Tahune AirWalk, Hastings Caves State Res, Ida Bay Railway, Zoodoo Wildlife Park | ||
The Shot Tower at Taroona is a historic building shot tower between Hobart and Kingston, Tasmania. It was designed and built by Joseph Moir in 1870 in only eight months. One of only three remaining shot towers in Australia, it is alleged to be the tallest remaining shot tower in the world and the tallest ever built in the Southern Hemisphere, which is disputed by the Clifton Hill Shot Tower.
It is however the sole claimant for the tallest stone shot tower in the Southern Hemisphere and first shot tower in the Southern Hemisphere. For four years it was the tallest building in Australia, and for one hundred years the tallest in Tasmania until it was superseded by the Mount Wellington broadcast tower. The building is listed on the Tasmanian Heritage Register and the Australian Register of the National Estate until that list was archived.
It is attached to a historic house known as Queensborough Glen, which was the residence of Joseph Moir for many years. The Shot Tower now operates as a tourist attraction, with visitors able to climb to the top, and visit the attached cafe.
Height
The tower is variously listed as having a height of 157 feet (48 m), 192 feet (59 m), 172 feet (52 m) or 192 feet (59 m) with a diameter of either 10m or 6.37m at the base with either 291 or 316 steps.