Australia 108 becomes Melbourne’s tallest tower at a vertigo-inducing 317m

Australia 108 in Southbank is now officially Melbourne’s tallest building. We toured the new mega skyscraper, giving you first access to pictures of the city from new heights.

Australia 108 as seen from a crane at the top of the behemoth construction now taller than Eureka Tower, right. Picture: David Caird

Say hello to Melbourne’s new high point.

Melbourne has just raised the roof to heights never before seen in the southern hemisphere as the city’s tallest skyscraper, Australia 108, is now looking down on the former top tower — Grocon’s 297m Eureka Tower.

Singapore developer World Class Global will today announce the building’s central lift core has reached its 100-storey, 317m full height.

Project co-ordinator Stephanie Kluz on top of the lift core of Australia 108 with Eureka Tower in the background. Picture: David Caird

The immense construction as seen from the south.

That also makes it the nation’s second tallest structure, beneath the Gold Coast’s Q1 tower — which uses a 75m architectural spire to reach 322.5m into the sky despite its roof being only 235m tall.

Project director Craig Baudin of Fender Katsalidis architects said by roof height, Australia 108 was now believed to be the tallest tower in the southern hemisphere.

“It’s pretty much at 317m, because there’s no decorative structures above it — that’s the roof of the uppermost penthouse,” he said. “But there’s another seven storeys of glass to go up (around it).”

Australia 108 under construction earlier this year. Picture: David Caird

And even above the clouds, if early artwork for the tower proves accurate.

A crane that will clean the building’s upper windows adds another few metres to the height, but is not counted for architectural purposes.

Construction on the $1 billion building, which began in November 2015, won’t end until mid-next year.

World Class Global chief executive David Ng said Melbourne was a “natural” fit for the building.

“It was natural to want to create an architectural landmark in such an important and vibrant international hub,” Mr Ng said.

Multiplex regional director Frank McMahon said building it was no mean feat.

A render showing Australia 108’s $25 million penthouse sold off-the-plan in 2015.

The Gold Coast’s Q1 tower owes a substantial chunk of its height to an architectural spire.

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“Apart from the sheer scale of the building, there have been a number of engineering challenges to overcome, such as driving piles some 47m below ground, installing structural walls up to 2m thick, and constructing the Starburst, which cantilevers out over the public street,” Mr McMahon said.

Australia 108 has already taken prices to new heights — the penthouse sold to a Chinese billionaire in 2015 for $25 million — a Melbourne record at the time.

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