Australia was one of the first countries in the world to play host to the skyscraper boom along with the United States and Canada. Australia's first skyscraper as then-defined was Melbourne's now demolished APA Building, completed in 1889, which was among the tallest buildings in the world at the time. The nation's first skyscraper as defined today by the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat as buildings exceeding 150 metres was the Australia Square Tower in Sydney, completed in 1967.
The vast majority of Australia's buildings which exceed 150 metres in height are located in the eastern states of Victoria, New South Wales, and Queensland, with a smaller number in Western Australia. While Australia's other states and territories contain no skyscrapers as defined, they all play host to numerous high-rise buildings, with South Australia having two skyscrapers under construction.
Tallest buildings
This list includes the tallest completed and topped out buildings in Australia that reach a height of at least 200 metres (656.2 feet), ranked by their official heights as defined by the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH). An equal sign (=) following a rank indicates the same height between two or more buildings (in such cases, the building with the highest number of floors is listed first). The "Year" column indicates the year of completion. The list includes only habitable buildings, as opposed to structures such as observation towers, radio masts, transmission towers and chimneys.[citation needed]
Official heights (denoted by "O") are also known as "architectural heights", as they include spires but exclude communications masts and antennae. This is because spires form an integral part of a building's design while masts and antennae do not, being purely functional. Also included are heights "excluding spires" ("ES"), which as used here include the entire architectural structure save for architectural spires. Whilst this is not a measure used by CTBUH, the concept is nonetheless frequently referred to by skyscraper aficionados.[citation needed]
The Sydney Tower completed in 1981, was the first structure in any city in Australia to climb above 300m / 1,000ft standing at 309 m (1,014 ft). However it is not included in this list as it does not qualify as a skyscraper due to it having only 4 floors. The bulk of the structure above the base consists of a communications and observation tower.[citation needed]
| Rank | Name | Image | Location | Height: m (ft) | Floors | Year | Notes | Reference | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| O | ES | ||||||||
| 1 | Q1 | Gold Coast | 322.5 (1,058) | 245 (804) | 78 | 2005 | Tallest building in Australia since 2005. Tallest residential building in the world from 2005 to 2011. Q1 is short for Queensland Number One. | ||
| 2 | Australia 108 | Melbourne | 316.7 (1,039) | 100 | 2020 | Tallest building in Melbourne since 2020. Tallest building in Australia to roof since 2020. Topped out in November 2019. | |||
| 3 | Eureka Tower | Melbourne | 297.3 (975) | 91 | 2006 | Tallest building in Melbourne from 2006 to 2019. Tallest building in Australia to roof from 2006 to 2019. | |||
| 4 | Brisbane Skytower | Brisbane | 274.3 (900) | 90 | 2019 | Tallest building in Brisbane since 2019. Largest residential building in the Southern Hemisphere since 2019 with a gross floor area of 147,000sqm. | |||
| 5 | The One | Brisbane | 274 (899) | 82 | 2021 | ||||
| 6 | Crown Sydney | Sydney | 271.3 (889) | 75 | 2020 | Tallest building in Sydney. Topped out in March 2020. Completed in December 2020. | |||
| 7 | Aurora Melbourne Central | Melbourne | 270.5 (887) | 84 | 2019 | ||||
| 8 | West Side Place Tower A | Melbourne | 268.7 (876) | 81 | 2021 | ||||
| 9 | 1 William Street | Brisbane | 267 (876) | 224 (735) | 46 | 2016 | Tallest office building in Australia. Tallest government building in Australia. Tallest building in Brisbane from 2016 to 2018. | ||
| 10 | 120 Collins Street | Melbourne | 265 (869) | 222.15 (729) | 52 | 1991 | Tallest building in Melbourne from 1991 to 2006. Tallest building in Australia from 1991 to 2005. | ||
| 11 | Ocean | Gold Coast | 264.6 (868) | 75 | 2022 | ||||
| 12 | Salesforce Tower | Sydney | 263 (863) | 53 | 2022 | Tallest commercial building in Sydney since 2022; structurally topped out in February 2022. | |||
| 13 | Infinity Tower | Brisbane | 262 (860) | 81 | 2013 | Tallest building in Brisbane from 2013 to 2016. | |||
| 14 | 101 Collins Street | Melbourne | 260 (853) | 195 (640) | 50 | 1991 | Tallest building in Melbourne and Australia from March to August 1991. | ||
| 15 | Prima Pearl | Melbourne | 254 (833) | 72 | 2014 | ||||
| 16 | Rialto Towers | Melbourne | 251.1 (824) | 63 | 1986 | Tallest office building in Australia to roof from 1986 to 2006. Tallest building in Melbourne from 1986 to 1991. Tallest building in Australia from 1986 to 1991. | |||
| 17 | Queens Place Tower 1 | Melbourne | 249.9 (820) | 79 | 2021 | ||||
| 18 | Central Park | Perth | 249 (817) | 226 (741) | 51 | 1992 | Tallest building in Perth since 1992. | ||
| 19 | One Sydney Harbour Tower 1 | Sydney | 247 (810) | 72 | 2024 | ||||
| 20 | Victoria One | Melbourne | 246.8 (810) | 76 | 2018 | First proposed in 2013, construction commenced in 2014, before being completed in 2018. | |||
| 21 | Premier Tower (134–160 Spencer Street) | Melbourne | 245.9 m (807 ft) | 78 | 2021 | First proposed in 2014, construction commenced in 2017, before topping–out in 2020. Completed in 2021. Recognised in 7th place for the 2021 Emporis Skyscraper Award. | |||
| 22 | Chifley Tower | Sydney | 244 (801) | 216 (709) | 53 | 1992 | Tallest building in Sydney from 1992 to 2019. | ||
| =23 | Soleil | Brisbane | 243 (797) | 74 | 2011 |
| |||
| =23 | Citigroup Centre | Sydney | 243 (797) | 206 (676) | 50 | 2000 | |||
| 25 | Soul | Gold Coast | 242.6 (796) | 77 | 2012 | ||||
| 26 | Queen's Wharf Residences | Brisbane | 242 (794) | 63 | 2024 | ||||
| 27 | Deutsche Bank Place | Sydney | 240 (787) | 160 (525) | 39 | 2005 | Shortest building to roof of top 30. | ||
| 28 | West Side Place Tower D (250 Spencer Street) | Melbourne | 239 m (784 ft) | 72 | 2023 | First proposed in 2013, construction commenced in 2020, before topping–out in 2022. Second–tallest building of the West Side Place complex. | |||
| 29 | Greenland Centre | Sydney | 237 (778) | 67 | 2020 | Topped out in July 2020. Scheduled for completion in late 2020. Tallest residential building in Sydney upon completion. | |||
| 30 | Swanston Central | Melbourne | 236.7 (777) | 78 | 2019 | ||||
| 31 | Brookfield Place | Perth | 234.4 (769) | 46 | 2011 | Also known as City Square or BHP City Square | |||
| 32 | Shangri-La by the Gardens (308 Exhibition Street) | Melbourne | 231.7 m (760 ft) | 59 | 2023 | First proposed in 2016, construction commenced in 2019, before topping-out in 2022. Upon completion in 2023, it will become the tallest all-hotel building in Australia, surpassing the Jewel Hotel on the Gold Coast. Taller tower of the by the Gardens development. | |||
| 33 | Melbourne Square Tower 1 (93–119 Kavanagh Street) | Melbourne | 231 m (758 ft) | 70 | 2021 | First proposed in 2017, construction commenced in 2018, before topping–out in 2020. Completed in 2021. Tallest building of the Melbourne Square complex. | |||
| =34 | World Tower | Sydney | 230 (755) | 73 | 2004 | Won the bronze Emporis Skyscraper Award in 2004 | |||
| =34 | West Side Place Tower C (250 Spencer Street) | Melbourne | 230 m (755 ft) | 70 | 2023 | First proposed in 2013, construction commenced in 2020, before topping–out in 2022. 3rd–tallest building of the West Side Place complex. | |||
| =34 | One Sydney Harbour Tower 2 | Sydney | 230 (755) | 68 | 2024 | ||||
| 37 | Vision Apartments | Melbourne | 229 (751) | 70 | 2016 | ||||
| 38 | 25 Martin Place | Sydney | 228 (748) | 60 | 1977 | Tallest building in Australia from 1977 to 1986. | |||
| 39 | Governor Phillip Tower | Sydney | 227 (745) | 54 | 1993 | Incorporates the site of Australia's first Government House. | |||
| 40 | 6 & 8 Parramatta Square | Sydney | 225.45 (739.66) | 57 | 2022 | Tallest building in Parramatta. Topped out in November 2021. | |||
| =41 | 568 Collins Street | Melbourne | 224 (735) | 68 | 2015 | ||||
| =41 | Bourke Place | Melbourne | 224 (735) | 49 | 1991 | A 30 m communications mast sits atop the building. | |||
| 43 | Latitude | Sydney | 222 (728) | 192 (630) | 45 | 2004 | |||
| 44 | Circle on Cavill North Tower | Gold Coast | 219.5 (720) | 70 | 2007 | ||||
| 45 | Aurora Place | Sydney | 218.9 (718) | 188 (617) | 41 | 2001 | |||
| 46 | Sapphire by the Gardens (308 Exhibition Street) | Melbourne | 218.8 m (718 ft) | 57 | 2022 | First proposed in 2016, construction commenced in 2019, before completion in 2022. Shorter tower of the by the Gardens development | |||
| =47 | Light House Melbourne | Melbourne | 218 (715) | 69 | 2018 | ||||
| =47 | Telstra Corporate Centre | Melbourne | 218 (715) | 193 (633) | 47 | 1992 | |||
| 49 | 380 Melbourne (380 Lonsdale Street) | Melbourne | 217.5 m (714 ft) | 67 | 2021 | First proposed in 2014, construction commenced in 2018, before topping–out in 2020. Completed in 2021. | |||
| 50 | International Towers 1 | Sydney | 217 (711) | 49 | 2016 | ||||
| 51 | 108 St Georges Terrace | Perth | 214 (702) | 50 | 1988 | A 33 m communications mast sits atop the building. | |||
| 52 | 180 George Street – North Tower | Sydney | 213 (699) | 67 | 2023 | In Parramatta CBD. | |||
| 53 | Quay Quarter Tower | Sydney | 212.92 (698.5) | 52 | 1976/2022 | Best Tall Building Worldwide 2023 Winner, 2023 CTBUH Awards. | |||
| =54 | West Side Place Tower B | Melbourne | 211 (692) | 65 | 2021 | ||||
| =54 | The Tower at Melbourne Central | Melbourne | 211 (692) | 54 | 1991 | Part of a major shopping, office and public transport hub in Melbourne. | |||
| 56 | Aspire Melbourne (299 King Street) | Melbourne | 210.6 m (691 ft) | 65 | 2023 | First proposed in 2014, construction commenced in 2020, before topping–out in 2022. | |||
| 57 | UNO Melbourne (111 A'Beckett Street) | Melbourne | 210 m (689 ft) | 65 | 2023 | First proposed in 2015, construction began in 2020. | |||
| =58 | Aurora | Brisbane | 207 (679) | 69 | 2006 | ||||
| =58 | Freshwater Place | Melbourne | 205 (673) | 63 | 2005 | The residential part of an office/residential building complex. | |||
| 60 | Eq. Tower | Melbourne | 202.7 (665) | 63 | 2017 | ||||
| 61 | Riparian Plaza | Brisbane | 200 (656) | 53 | 2005 | A 50 m communications mast stands atop the building. | |||
Tallest buildings under construction or proposed
This list includes the tallest buildings over 200 m that are currently under construction, approved or proposed in Australia according to the CTBUH, save for those which have already topped out.
| Under construction | Approved | Proposed | Topped out |
| Name | Height | Storeys | Purpose | City | Completion | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| m | ft | ||||||
| One Park Lane | 393 | 1,289 | 101 | Residential | Gold Coast | TBA | Approved |
| 1–25 O'Connell Street | 309 | 1,014 | 70 | Office | Sydney | TBA | Proposed |
| Cypress Palms Tower 1 | 305.2 | 1,001 | 90 | Residential | Gold Coast | 2027 | Under Construction |
| 56 Pitt Street | 305 | 1,001 | 70 | Office | Sydney | TBA | Proposed |
| 25–35 Power Street | 280.3 | 920 | 71 | Mixed use | Melbourne | TBA | Approved |
| 204 Alice St | 273.5 | 897 | 79 | Residential | Brisbane | 2028 | Under Construction |
| 505 George Street | 270 | 890 | 80 | Residential | Sydney | TBA | Approved |
| 30 Albert Street | 270 | 890 | 91 | Residential | Brisbane | TBA | Proposed |
| 338 Pitt Street Tower 1 | 267 | 876 | 80 | Mixed use | Sydney | TBA | Approved |
| 338 Pitt Street Tower 2 | 267 | 876 | 80 | Mixed use | Sydney | TBA | Approved |
| 171 Edward Street | 265 | 869 | 81 | Residential | Brisbane | TBA | Approved |
| Cypress Palms Tower 2 | 261.6 | 858 | 76 | Residential | Gold Coast | 2027 | Under Construction |
| Queens Place Tower 2 | 251 | 823 | 79 | Residential | Melbourne | TBA | Approved |
| St Andrews Place | 249.5 | 819 | 62 | Residential | Perth | TBA | Approved |
| Iconica | 243 | 74 | 78 | Residential | Gold Coast | 2026 | Under Construction |
| 55 Pitt Street | 238 | 781 | 56 | Office | Sydney | TBA | Under construction |
| Monument | 234 | 768 | 68 | Residential | Melbourne | TBA | Approved |
| 51–65 Clarke Street | 234 | 768 | 73 | Residential | Melbourne | TBA | Approved |
| Queen's Wharf Tower 4 | 231.1 | 758 | 63 | Residential | Brisbane | 2022 | Under construction |
| 110–122 Walker Street | 227 | 745 | 55 | Office | Sydney | TBA | Proposed |
| 8–14 Great Western Hwy | 226 | 741 | 75 | Residential | Sydney | TBA | Proposed |
| Victoria & Albert | 218 | 715 | 64 | Residential | Gold Coast | 2026 | Under Construction |
| 187 Thomas Street | 218 | 715 | 49 | Mixed use | Sydney | TBA | Proposed |
| 2 O'Connell Street | 217 | 712 | 66 | Residential | Sydney | TBA | Proposed |
| 158 City Road | 216 | 709 | 69 | Residential | Melbourne | TBA | Proposed |
| Perth+ West Tower | 213 | 699 | 56 | Mixed Use | Perth | 2029 | Approved |
| Lot 4 EQ | 212.4 | 696 | 54 | Mixed Use | Perth | 2027 | Under construction |
| 435 Bourke Street | 210.3 | 690 | 49 | Office | Melbourne | 2026 | Approved |
| Westfield Parramatta Tower | 210 | 690 | 46 | Mixed use | Sydney | TBA | Proposed |
| 272 Queen Street | 210 | 690 | 62 | Mixed use | Melbourne | TBA | Approved |
| 48 Macquarie Street | 210 | 690 | 61 | Residential | Sydney | TBA | Proposed |
| 133 Liverpool Street | 208 | 682 | 55 | Residential | Sydney | TBA | Proposed |
| 280 Queen Street | 207 | 679 | 68 | Residential | Melbourne | TBA | Approved |
| 4–6 Bligh Street | 205 | 673 | 55 | Residential | Sydney | TBA | Proposed |
| 112 Talavera Road – Building B | 200 | 660 | 63 | Residential | Sydney | TBA | Approved |
Tallest buildings by state or territory
The following table provides the tallest building (completed or topped out) in each state given that only New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, and Western Australia are currently featured in the lists of tallest buildings to architectural detail and to roof. Heights to architectural detail are used.
| Current | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| State / Territory | Building | Height | Floor count | Year |
| Queensland | Q1 | 323 m (1059.7 ft) | 78 | 2005 |
| Victoria | Australia 108 | 316.7 m (1039 ft) | 100 | 2020 |
| New South Wales | Crown Sydney | 271 m (889.1 ft) | 75 | 2020 |
| Western Australia | Central Park | 249 m (816.9 ft) | 52 | 1992 |
| South Australia | Frome Central Tower One | 138 m (453.0 ft) | 37 | 2020 |
| Australian Capital Territory | High Society Tower One | 113 m (370.7 ft) | 27 | 2020 |
| Northern Territory | Evolution on Gardiner | 99 m (324.8 ft) | 33 | 2008 |
| Tasmania | Wrest Point Hotel Casino | 73 m (239.5 ft) | 19 | 1973 |
The following table lists future tallest buildings that if built, could become the tallest buildings in their respective state or territory.
| Future | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State / Territory | Building | Height | Floor count | Status | Year |
| Victoria | Southbank by Beulah Tower 1 | 366 m (1,161 ft) | 102 | Approved | 2028 |
| New South Wales | 56 Pitt Street | 314 m (1,001 ft) | 75 | Proposed | N/A |
| Western Australia | St Andrews Place | 249 m (819 ft) | 62 | Proposed | N/A |
| South Australia | Keystone Tower | 183 m (600.4 ft) | 39 | Under construction | 2027 |
Cities with the most skyscrapers
This table shows Australian cities with at least one skyscraper over 150 metres in height, completed, topped–out or under construction.
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See also
- List of tallest buildings in the Southern Hemisphere
- List of tallest structures in Australia
- List of tallest buildings in Oceania
- List of cities in Australia with the most skyscrapers
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