Sep 27 2006
Sydney’s tallest building and one of its major icons, Sydney Tower, turns 25 today after treating more than 16 million visitors to one of the world’s most spectacular panoramas since its 1981 opening.
To mark the occasion, twenty-five thrillseeking 25-year-olds sourced through a competition this morning enjoyed an exclusive breakfast party on top of the tower, including a tour of Sydney Tower’s new outdoor adrenalin attraction, Skywalk.
When it opened on September 27, 1981, at a cost of $36 million and after six years of construction, Sydney Tower was one of the world’s tallest buildings, soaring 305m. Twenty-five years and 16 million visitors later, the lofty golden turret remains a defining Sydney landmark equal in height to the Eiffel Tower, more than double the height of the Harbour Bridge and six times higher than Niagara Falls.
“Sydney Tower has now been a landmark Sydney attraction for a quarter of a century, drawing millions of locals and overseas visitors to one of the world’s most amazing views,” said Sydney Tower Marketing Manager Thomas Davey.
“From a vantage point a quarter of a kilometre above the city, visitors enjoy sweeping views over Sydney Harbour and landforms up to 100km away. In fact, the tower is so high that people on the Observation Deck can see the sun rising three minutes earlier than people at ground level,” Mr Thomas said.
A highlight of Sydney Tower’s 25 years came in 1998 when the tower played home to three massive sculptures of athletes for the 2000 Olympics. The statues stayed until 2003.
2000 saw the debut at the tower of one of Australia’s largest simulated rides, OzTrek, which uses 3D imagery, surround-sound and real-motion seats to take visitors on a ‘magic carpet ride’ around Australia.
And in October 2005, the Tower’s latest attraction, Sydney Skywalk, was unveiled. A big hit with Sydneysiders and visitors alike, Skywalk provides thrillseekers with the chance to walk harnessed outside on the tower’s roof for the first time, with moving, glass-floored platforms extending over city streets.