List of tallest structures in the Commonwealth of Nations

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Kuala Lumpur is home to several of the Commonwealth's tallest structures, including the Commonwealth's tallest building. Kuala Lumpur Skyline at dusk.jpg
Kuala Lumpur is home to several of the Commonwealth's tallest structures, including the Commonwealth's tallest building.
Toronto is home to a growing skyline which includes the Commonwealth's tallest structure. Toronto August 2017.jpg
Toronto is home to a growing skyline which includes the Commonwealth's tallest structure.

The Commonwealth of Nations dates back to the first half of the 20th century with the decolonization of the British Empire through increased self-governance of its territories. It was originally created as the British Commonwealth of Nations through the Balfour Declaration at the 1926 Imperial Conference, and was formalized by the United Kingdom through the Statute of Westminster in 1931. Though the current Commonwealth of Nations was formally constituted by the London Declaration in 1949, the Statute of Westminster in 1931 is most often used as dividing point between the British Empire and The Commonwealth.

Contents

Tallest structures

This list ranks structures that stand at least 300 m (984 ft) tall, measured from the base to the tallest structural point. This includes antenna masts, spires, and architectural details.

RankStructureHeightLocationCountryCompletedNotes
1 CN Tower 553.3 m (1,815 ft) Toronto, Ontario Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 1976 Tallest freestanding structure in the world until 2007; tallest freestanding structure in the Western Hemisphere.
2Twin umbrella antennas of INS Kattabomman 471 m (1,545 ft) Vijayanarayanam, Tamil Nadu Flag of India.svg  India 2013Tallest military structure in the world.
3 The Exchange 106 453.5 m (1,488 ft) Kuala Lumpur Flag of Malaysia.svg  Malaysia 2019Tallest building in the Commonwealth of Nations.
4 Petronas Towers 452 m (1,483 ft) Kuala Lumpur Flag of Malaysia.svg  Malaysia 1996 Tallest twin buildings in the world.
5 Kuala Lumpur Tower 421 m (1,381 ft) Kuala Lumpur Flag of Malaysia.svg  Malaysia 1994
6 CKX-TV Craig broadcasting tower 412 m (1,352 ft) Hayfield, Manitoba Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 1973, 1985Collapsed in 1983; replaced by tower of same height.
7 Naval Communication System, Tower Zero389 m (1,276 ft) Exmouth, Western Australia Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 1967Tallest structure of any type in the Southern Hemisphere.
8 Inco Superstack 380 m (1,250 ft) Sudbury, Ontario Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 1970Demolition to commence in 2020.
9 VLF Transmitter Skelton 365 m (1,198 ft) Skelton, Cumbria, England Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 2001Tallest structure in the United Kingdom since April 2010.
10 Naval Communication Station, Towers 7-12364 m (1,194 ft) Exmouth, Western Australia Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 1967A ring of six identical transmitters surrounding an inner ring of six shorter transmitters and the much taller "Tower Zero" transmitter.
11CHCH-DT-3 TV Tower360 m (1,180 ft) Midland, Ontario Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada  ?
12 CHCH TV Tower 357.5 m (1,173 ft) Stoney Creek, Ontario Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 1960The tower began being demolished in November 2023 and finished in March 2024 due to housing developments in the area. A new shorter tower was build in the summer of 2023 in Dundas, Ontario.
13 First Canadian Place 355 m (1,165 ft) Toronto, Ontario Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 1975
14 Belmont Transmitter 351.7 m (1,154 ft) Donington on Bain, England Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 1965Between October 2009 and April 2010, the mast was shorted from its original height of 387.7 metres to 351.7 metres.
15 Caldbeck transmitting station 337.1 m (1,106 ft) Caldbeck, Cumbria, England Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 1961, 2008Original transmitter demolished in 2008; replaced by an identical tower built close to the original.
16 Emley Moor transmitting station 331 m (1,086 ft) Emley Moor, England Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 1971Original 1964 transmitter had a height of 385.5 metres before collapsing in 1969; replaced by a shorter 331 metre transmitter in 1971.
17 Sky Tower 328 m (1,076 ft) Auckland Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 1997Tallest freestanding structure in the Southern Hemisphere.
18Starbuck CBC Tower324 m (1,063 ft) Winnipeg, Manitoba Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada  ?
19 Q1 Tower 323 m (1,060 ft) Gold Coast, Queensland Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 2005
20Abeokuta Radio Mast321 m (1,053 ft) Abeokuta, Ogun State Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria  ?Fifth tallest structure in Africa.
21CIII Television Tower316 m (1,037 ft) Paris, Ontario Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 1974
22= CFPL Television Tower 315 m (1,033 ft) London, Ontario Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 1961
22= Waltham Mast 315 m (1,033 ft) Melton Mowbray, England Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 1966, 1968Collapsed in 1966 shortly after completion; replaced by identical tower in 1968.
24 Arfon Mast 314 m (1,030 ft) Gwynedd, Wales Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 1962
25 Menara Telekom 312 m (1,024 ft) Kuala Lumpur Flag of Malaysia.svg  Malaysia 2001
26= Winter Hill Mast 309 m (1,014 ft) Belmont, England Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 1956
26= Sydney Tower 309 m (1,014 ft) Sydney, New South Wales Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 1981
26= Bilsdale Mast 309 m (1,014 ft) Helmsley, England Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 1969
29= Black Hill Mast 307 m (1,007 ft) Airdrie, Scotland Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 1961
29= Durris Mast 307 m (1,007 ft) Stonehaven, Scotland Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 1961
31 Strabane Mast 306 m (1,004 ft) Strabane, Northern Ireland Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 1963
32= Mendlesham Mast 305 m (1,001 ft) Mendlesham, England Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 1959
32= Lichfield Mast 305 m (1,001 ft) Tamworth, England Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 1961
32= Mendip Mast 305 m (1,001 ft) Wells, England Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 1967
32= Fazilka TV Tower 305 m (1,001 ft) Fazilka, Punjab Flag of India.svg  India 2007
36=PRTVC Rayfield Tower304.8 m (1,000 ft)RayfieldFlag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria  ?
36=New Netim TV Mast304.8 m (1,000 ft)New Netim, Cross River State Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria  ?
38= CKVR Television Tower304 m (997 ft) Barrie, Ontario Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 1955
38= Naval Communication Station, Towers 1-6364 m (1,194 ft) Exmouth, Western Australia Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 1967A ring of six identical transmitters surrounding the much taller "Tower Zero" transmitter.
40=Central mast of INS Kattabomman 301 m (988 ft) Vijayanarayanam, Tamil Nadu Flag of India.svg  India 1990
40= SASOL III Synthetic Fuel Production Plant Smokestack 301 m (988 ft) Secunda, Mpumalanga Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa 1984Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa left the Commonwealth in 1961 but rejoined in 1994. [1]
42AKBC Broadcasting Tower300.5 m (986 ft) Uyo, Akwa Ibom Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria  ?
43Large Ikorodu TV Mast300.2 m (985 ft) Ikorodu, Lagos State Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria  ?
44= Duvha Power Station Smokestacks 300 m (980 ft) eMalahleni, Mpumalanga Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa 1984Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa left the Commonwealth in 1961 but rejoined in 1994. [1]
44= Komati Power Station Smokestack 300 m (980 ft) Mpumalanga Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa 1966Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa left the Commonwealth in 1961 but rejoined in 1994. [1]
44= Mumbai TV Tower 300 m (980 ft) Mumbai, Maharashtra Flag of India.svg  India 1972

Former tallest structures

This list ranks demolished or destroyed structures that stood at least 300 m (984 ft) tall, based on standard height measurement. This includes antenna masts, spires, and architectural details.

RankStructureHeightLocationCountryCompletedNotes
1 VLF Transmitter Woodside 427.0 m (1,400.9 ft) Woodside, Victoria Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 1982Demolished in 2015; was the second tallest structure in the Commonwealth of Nations upon completion in 1982. Tallest structure in the Southern Hemisphere for its entire lifespan.
2 Cape Race LORAN-C transmitter 412.0 m (1,351.7 ft) Cape Race, Newfoundland and Labrador Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 1965Collapsed in 1993; replaced by a much shorter 260m tower shortly thereafter.
3 Central Plaza 373.9 m (1,227 ft) Hong Kong Flag of Hong Kong 1959.svg  Hong Kong 1992The transfer of sovereignty over Hong Kong in 1997 ended the colony's status as a part of the Commonwealth through the United Kingdom.
4 CBC Tower 371.0 m (1,217.2 ft) Shawinigan, Quebec Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 1972Demolished in 2001; replaced by a new tower of an unknown but similar height. If the new tower's height is the same as the original, it would be the eighth tallest structure in the Commonwealth.
5 Bank of China Tower 367.4 m (1,205 ft) Hong Kong Flag of Hong Kong 1959.svg  Hong Kong 1990The transfer of sovereignty over Hong Kong in 1997 ended the colony's status as a part of the Commonwealth through the United Kingdom.

Timeline of tallest structures

This list ranks structures that were the tallest in the Commonwealth of Nations, measured from the base to the tallest structural point. This includes antenna masts, spires, and architectural details. Since 1973, Canada has been home to the tallest structure in the Commonwealth.

History of the tallest structures in the Commonwealth of Nations
PeriodBuildingImageLocationCountryHeight
1931 – 1954 Canadian Bank of Commerce Tower
Commerce Court North.JPG
Toronto, Ontario Canadian Red Ensign (1921-1957).svg  Canada 145 m (476 ft)
1954 – 1956CICT-TV Towers 1 & 2 Calgary, Alberta Canadian Red Ensign (1921-1957).svg  Canada 250 m (820 ft)
1956 – 1960 Winter Hill transmitting station
Winterhillmast.jpg
Belmont, England Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 309 m (1,014 ft)
1960 – 1967 CHCH TV Tower
CHCH Television Tower.jpg
Stoney Creek, Ontario Canadian Red Ensign (1957-1965).svg  Canada 357.5 m (1,173 ft)
1967 – 1973 Naval Communication Station, Tower Zero
Harold E Holt Naval Base.jpg
Exmouth, Western Australia Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 389 m (1,276 ft)
1973 – 1976 CKX-TV Craig TV Tower Hayfield, Manitoba Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 412 m (1,352 ft)
1976 – present CN Tower
Toronto - ON - Toronto Harbourfront7.jpg
Toronto, Ontario Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 553.3 m (1,815 ft)

Related Research Articles

The tallest building in the world, as of 2024, is the Burj Khalifa in Dubai. The title of "world's tallest building" has been held by various buildings in modern times, including the Lincoln Cathedral in Lincoln, England, and the Empire State Building and the original World Trade Center, both in New York City.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "South Africa | The Commonwealth". thecommonwealth.org. Retrieved 15 September 2019.