Shot Tower, Taroona

Last updated

Shot Tower
Taroona Shot Tower.jpg
The Shot Tower at Taroona
Shot Tower, Taroona
General information
Type Shot tower
Location Taroona, Tasmania.
Country Australia
Construction started1870
Inaugurated8 September 1870
Owner Tasmanian Government
Height58.7 metres (192.6 ft)
Dimensions
Diameter10-3.9 metres
Technical details
MaterialSandstone
Design and construction
Architect(s) Joseph Moir
EngineerJoseph Moir
Place ID3,635 [1]
StatusPermanently Registered

The Shot Tower (sometimes referred to as the Taroona Shot Tower) is a historic sandstone shot tower situated in Taroona, Tasmania, Australia. The tower held the title of tallest building within the Australian colonies between 1870 and 1875 and remained the tallest structure in Tasmania until 1960, when it was surpassed by the Mount Wellington broadcast tower. [2] The Shot Tower is recognised as the tallest cylindrical sandstone tower in the Southern Hemisphere. The building is listed on the Tasmanian Heritage Register [3] and was previously listed on the former Register of the National Estate. [4]

Contents

History

Looking down from the top of the Shot Tower Looking down - panoramio (3).jpg
Looking down from the top of the Shot Tower

Joseph Moir, a skilled Scotsman in iron-mongering, settled in Hobart in 1829 and acquired multiple parcels of land throughout the region. Designed and built by Moir in only eight months, the Taroona Shot Tower became the tallest building in Australia when it was completed in 1870. An inscription at the tower proclaims that the first shot was dropped on 8 September 1870.

The residence of Joseph Moir and his family for many years was located at Queensborough Glen Estate, which is located on the grounds of the historic Shot Tower.

Initially protected by a tariff, the shot business faced challenges after Australia's federation in 1901, leading to the cessation of operations in 1905 under then-operator William Baynton. In an effort to adapt, Baynton's wife established a tea shop at the tower's base, marking the beginning of its use for tourism. Recognizing its significance, the Tasmanian Government designated the Shot Tower, its surrounding land, and structures as the Scenery Reserve in 1956. Today, the tower stands as a preserved historic site, open for tourism. The tea room, reminiscent of Mrs. Baynton's operation, continues to operate in the building at the tower's base. [5]

Operation method

The Taroona Shot Tower used the "long drop and water" method. Lead ingots laced with arsenic and antimony were hauled to the top of the tower, where they were melted. The liquid was then poured down the centre of the tower through a colander, which separated it into drops. Once in free-fall, these drops formed naturally into spheres. They instantly solidified upon hitting a pool of water at the bottom of the tower. [5] [6]

Height

The tower has a height of 58.7 metres (192.6 ft) [7] with a diameter of either 10 metres (33 ft) or 6.37 metres (20.9 ft) at the base [8] with either 258 [7] [8] or 318 steps. [9]

Legacy

The Taroona Shot Tower stands as a remarkable example of industrial innovation from the 19th century; it was the tallest building within the Australian colonies for 4 years and remains the tallest cylindrical sandstone tower in the Southern Hemisphere.

The tower is one of only three remaining shot towers in modern-day Australia, with the others being located in Victoria; the Clifton Hill Shot Tower and Coop's Shot Tower located within the Melbourne Central Shopping Centre. [9] [7] The Shot Tower at Taroona is the only tower open to the public to climb. [2]

The Shot Tower is the emblem for Taroona Primary School.

Travel

The Shot Tower is accessible from the Hobart City Centre via car or metro bus along the Channel Highway.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">River Derwent (Tasmania)</span> River in south east Tasmania, Australia

The River Derwent, also known as timtumili minanya in palawa kani, is a significant river and tidal estuary in Tasmania, Australia. It begins its journey as a freshwater river in the Central Highlands at Lake St Clair, descending over 700 metres (2,300 ft) across a distance of more than 200 kilometres (120 mi). At the settlement of New Norfolk in the Derwent Valley its waters become brackish, flowing through Hobart, the capital city of Tasmania, its seawater estuary eventually empties into Storm Bay and the Tasman Sea.

Kingborough Council is a local government body in Tasmania, and one of the five municipalities that constitutes the Greater Hobart Area. Kingborough is classified as an urban local government area and has a population of 37,734, it covers the transition from the southern urban areas of Hobart through Kingston, as well as encompassing Bruny Island.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Taroona High School</span> School in Australia

Taroona High School is a government co-educational comprehensive junior secondary school located in Taroona, a suburb of Hobart, Tasmania, Australia. Established in 1958, the school caters for approximately 1,100 students from Years 7 to 10. The school is administered by the Tasmanian Department of Education.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Taroona</span> Suburb of Hobart, Tasmania, Australia

Taroona is a major residential suburb approximately 15 minutes drive from the centre of Hobart, Tasmania on the scenic route between Hobart and Kingston. Although on the edges of the City of Hobart, Taroona is actually part of the municipality of Kingborough. Taroona is bounded on the east by the Derwent River, and has several beaches along the shore, the main beaches with public access are Taroona Beach, Hinsby Beach and Dixons Beach. Past Hinsby Beach, the Alum Cliffs form a section of cliffed coast to the neighbouring suburb of Bonnet Hill.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clifton Hill Shot Tower</span> Shot tower in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

The Clifton Hill Shot Tower is a 78-metre (256 ft) cylindrical shot tower located in Clifton Hill, a suburb of Melbourne, Australia. The Clifton Hill Shot Tower held the title of Australia's tallest structure from its construction until 1930. Recognised by Guinness World Records, the landmark is acclaimed as the world's tallest shot tower. The shot tower is on the Victorian Heritage Register.

Bonnet Hill is a residential locality in the local government area (LGA) of Kingborough in the Hobart LGA region of Tasmania, Australia. The locality is about 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) east of the town of Kingston. The 2016 census recorded a population of 505 for the state suburb of Bonnet Hill.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gordon Dam</span> Dam in South West Tasmania, Australia

The Gordon Dam, also known as the Gordon River Dam, is a major gated double curvature concrete arch dam with a controlled spillway across the Gordon River, located in Southwest National Park, Tasmania, Australia. The impounded reservoir is called Lake Gordon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Smooth Island (Tasmania)</span> Island close to the south-eastern coast of Tasmania

Smooth Island, is a privately owned island with an area of 59.31 ha lying close to the south-eastern coast of Tasmania, Australia. The island is part of the Sloping Island Group situated in Norfolk Bay and surrounded by the Tasman and Forestier Peninsulas. The towns Dunalley and Murdunna are nearby. Smooth Island differs from other Tasmanian islands as it has an unencumbered freehold title down to the high-water mark.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hobart Rivulet</span> River in Tasmania, Australia

The Hobart Rivulet, part of the River Derwent catchment, is an urban stream located in the Hobart hinterland and flows through and underneath the city, in Tasmania, Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hobart City Centre</span> Suburb of Hobart, Tasmania, Australia

Hobart City Centre is a suburb surrounded by metropolitan Hobart, which comprises the original settlement, the central business district, and other built-up areas. It is the oldest part of Hobart and includes many of the city's important institutions and landmarks, such as Parliament, the Supreme Court, Franklin Square, the Elizabeth Street Mall, the Royal Hobart Hospital, the Theatre Royal, Odeon Theatre, State Library, the NAB Building, the Museum, and the Cenotaph. The city centre is located in the local government areas of the City of Hobart.

Joseph James Moir (1809–1874) was a prominent builder, ironmonger, citizen and shot manufacturer in 19th century Tasmania. He is best known for building the Taroona Shot Tower, but also built St Mark's Anglican Church, Pontville, issued tokens in his own name during a currency shortage in the colony, and served as an alderman on Hobart City Council.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hotel Grand Chancellor, Hobart</span> Hotel building in Hobart, Tasmania

The Hotel Grand Chancellor Hobart is a twelve-storey hotel located on the waterfront of Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">General Post Office, Hobart</span> Heritage listed building in Tasmania, Australia

General Post Office is a landmark building located on the corner of Elizabeth Street and Macquarie Street in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia. It stands next to the former Mercury Building and has served as the headquarters of the Tasmanian Postal system since its construction in 1905, though mail processing has now been moved to Glenorchy.

The Tasmanian Heritage Register is the statutory heritage register of the Australian state of Tasmania. It is defined as a list of areas currently identified as having historic cultural heritage importance to Tasmania as a whole. The Register is kept by the Tasmanian Heritage Council within the meaning of the Tasmanian Historic Cultural Heritage Act 1995. It encompasses in addition the Heritage Register of the Tasmanian branch of the National Trust of Australia, which was merged into the Tasmanian Heritage Register. The enforcement of the heritage's requirements is managed by Heritage Tasmania.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Isle of the Dead (Tasmania)</span> Protected area in Tasmania, Australia

Isle of the Dead is an island, about 1 hectare in area, adjacent to Port Arthur, Tasmania, Australia. It is historically significant since it retains an Aboriginal coastal shell midden, one of the first recorded sea-level benchmarks, and one of the few preserved Australian convict-period burial grounds. The Isle of the Dead occupies part of the Port Arthur Historic Site, is part of Australian Convict Sites and is listed as a World Heritage Property because it represents convictism in the era of British colonisation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Murray Street, Hobart</span> Road in Hobart, Tasmania

Murray Street is one of four north-west roads within the Hobart City Centre (CBD). The street is named for Captain John Murray, commandant at Hobart Town, by Lachlan Macquarie. One of Hobart's original seven streets, Murray Street was formalised by surveyor James Meehan (1774-1826) on 25 November 1811.

The Division of Clark is an Australian Electoral Division in the state of Tasmania, first contested at the 2019 federal election.

Taroona Beach is a popular beach destination along the River Derwent in Taroona, Hobart, Tasmania. The south facing beach looks directly out to Storm Bay and the Tasman Sea, with views of the Derwent estuary, the City of Clarence on the eastern shore, Opossum Bay, South Arm, the Alum Cliffs and northern tip of Bruny Island. Taroona Beach is situated between Hinsby Beach and Crayfish Point, home of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Centre for the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies. Taroona Beach contains a boat ramp and is backed by Taroona Park which contains bathroom facilities, a skate park, scout hall, the Taroona Tennis Club, and the Taroona Bowls and Community Club.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hinsby Beach</span> Suburban beach in Taroona, Tasmania

Hinsby Beach is a beach along the River Derwent in the Hobart suburb of Taroona, Australia. The south facing beach looks directly out to Storm Bay and the Tasman Sea, with views of the Derwent estuary, the Alum Cliffs, Taroona Shot Tower, the City of Clarence on the eastern shore and Opossum Bay, South Arm. Hinsby Beach is situated between the Alum Cliffs and Taroona Beach. A naturally secluded section of the beach, beyond the rocky south-western outcrop is a zoned naturist beach.

References

  1. "Permanent and Provisional Registrations as at 22 Jan 2021" (PDF). Tasmanian Heritage Register. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
  2. 1 2 "Joseph Moir's Shot Tower". Atlas Obscura. Atlas Obscura.
  3. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 March 2016. Retrieved 9 June 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. "Shot Tower Historic Site, 318 Channel Hwy, Taroona, TAS, Australia (Place ID 11467)". Australian Heritage Database . Australian Government. 21 March 1978. Retrieved 4 November 2019.
  5. 1 2 Alexander, Alison (2006). "The Companion to Tasmanian History - Taroona Shot Tower". www.parks.tas.gov.au. University of Tasmania . Retrieved 5 July 2022.
  6. Jones, Callum J. (25 August 2021). "Tas That Was – The Taroona Shot Tower". www.parks.tas.gov.au. tasmaniantimes.com. Retrieved 5 July 2022.
  7. 1 2 3 Norris, Keith (1980). Australia's heritage sketchbook (New ed.). Sydney: Weldon Pub. pp. 30–31. ISBN   1863022988.
  8. 1 2 "Australian Heritage Database". www.environment.gov.au.
  9. 1 2 Smith, drawings by Max Angus; text by Patsy Adam (1982). Hobart sketchbook (Rev. ed.). Adelaide: Rigby. p. 36. ISBN   0727000284.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

42°57′29″S147°20′15″E / 42.95798°S 147.33748°E / -42.95798; 147.33748