Canberra's iconic Telstra Tower set to reopen - but we'll have to hang on a little longer

The highest views of Canberra are finally coming back!

Telstra Tower is one of the most recognisable silhouettes of our skyline, but the iconic venue has been closed to the public since July 2021, disappointing countless visitors who make it up Black Mountain only to be met by construction fences and the odd hoon tearing up rubber in the car park.

Well, Telstra has finally confirmed plans to turn the 157-metre-high telecommunications tower into a “premier destination”.

“Our vision is for the Telstra Tower to be an iconic world-class venue that celebrates and embraces both the Ngunnawal culture and the role the Tower has played in the history of telecommunications in Australia,” Telstra general manager for NSW/ACT Chris Taylor said.

Over the past six months, Telstra has used consulting company Deloitte to liaise with Indigenous traditional owners, tourism providers and government agencies to “create the concept for a cultural icon that provides sustainable benefit and impact for Ngunnawal people, InfraCo [Telstra] and the broader community”.

“We have recently concluded the consultation phase and we’re currently considering next steps on bringing this vision to life,” Mr Taylor said.

Telstra Tower was constructed in the mid-1970s as an “important telecommunications site”, but it turns out being that high in the sky comes with some tourism appeal too. In its heyday, it welcomed almost 500,000 people every year. Two outdoor observation decks provided 360-degree views across Canberra, while a revolving restaurant inside allowed visitors to see everything without having to get up from their meal.

However, public access to the tower ceased in July 2021, and the revolving restaurant was closed almost 10 years for safety reasons.

Now with a bent towards celebrating Ngunnawal history, Telstra’s plans include upgraded viewing platforms with digital technology to “appreciate First Nations history”.

The base of the tower has always included a small museum of sorts, but this is set to be complemented by “education programs on cultural history and ties with the surrounding Ngunnawal land as well as the history of the telecommunications industry”.

There will also be “community engagement activities” such as market gardens, bush-tucker programs, art exhibitions, storytelling and cultural demonstrations with the Ngunnawal people.

And yes, food and drink are coming back with “culturally inspired dining facilities”. Will it revolve? Time will tell.

These ideas may not be quite the same as what emerged in 2019 after the ACT Government invited suggestions for the future of the landmark. A cable car to Mount Ainslie and a giant water slide to Lake Burley Griffin were suggested (but quickly ruled out).

But something is finally happening, and Canberra’s independent tourism body is “very encouraged”.

“It’s an embarrassment at the moment,” Canberra Region Tourism Leaders Forum chairman David Marshall told Region.

“When you drive up there, it just looks terribly unkept and derelict.”

Mr Marshall expects the upgrades to cost several million dollars, but is pushing Telstra to fast-track them ahead of a reopening date in 2025.

“We’re suggesting there should be a sense of urgency about this because it’s an iconic attraction featured on most of the marketing material pushed out by Visit Canberra,” he says.

“I don’t necessarily think people are going to come here to see the tower, but it adds to the quality of the tourism product we have. We’re always desperately keen to continue to upgrade and develop and expand that.”

Telstra was unable to confirm when the tower is expected to reopen.

“With such a range of changes planned, many requiring the involvement of a range of external organisations, Telstra doesn’t have any specific timeframes for a public reopening date as yet,” Mr Taylor said.

“However, we will keep the community informed when we know more.”