Excavators eat away as 10 Murray St shrinks ‘one floor at a time’

THE demolition of a landmark building in Hobart is on track to be completed by the end of June. SEE THE VIDEO

THE demolition of the landmark 10 Murray St building in Hobart is on track to be completed by the end of June as it disappears from the streetscape.

Hazell Bros managing director Geoffrey Hazell said preparation for the demolition began in October last year and was continuing on schedule.

GALLERY: DEMOLITION OF 10 MURRAY ST

Excavators at work demolishing the concrete structure of 10 Murray St. Picture: SUPPLIED

Mr Hazell said structural demolition started in January after the disconnection of building services, removal of plant and salvageable items and erection of a tower crane.

“The project required three excavators to be craned to the top of the 17-storey building to allow demolition one floor at a time,” he said.

“The excavators are currently working on the fifth floor.”

MORE: UP, UP AND AWAY AS DEMO WORK GATHERS PACE

When the demolition was announced in 2009, a Supreme Court appeal was launched to save the building and an online petition started.

The long-running campaign argued that the building was a landmark example of 20th century brutalist architecture.

MORE: END IS NIGH FOR DIVISIVE BRUTALIST BUILDING

MORE: DEMOLISHED 10 MURRAY TO BE RECYCLED

Mr Hazell said the company had employed an extra 50 people since Christmas because of growth of the state’s construction industry.

State Growth Minister Peter Gutwein said the Murray St development had demonstrated the strength of Tasmania’s economy.