Brisbane, Australia's third largest city, is home to at least 360 completed high-rise buildings,[1] at least 70 high-rise buildings over 100 metres in height,[2] and has 19 completed skyscrapers (and 5 under construction 2024) which exceed the height of 150 metres (490 ft).[3] With the third greatest number of skyscrapers in any city within Australia (behind Melbourne and Sydney), Brisbane boasts some of the tallest buildings in the country, including the city's current tallest, the 270.5 metres (887 ft) Brisbane Skytower, completed in 2019.
There is a 274.3 metres (900 ft) height limit for buildings in the CBD. As of 2013, a review of height limits for city skyscrapers has been requested by Brisbane Lord Mayor to allow construction of buildings over 300 metres (980 ft) above sea level.[4]
Brisbane's 91 metre City Hall was the city's tallest building for decades after its completion in 1930 and was finally surpassed in 1970 by the Westpac Building, which marked the beginning of the widespread construction of high-rise buildings over 100 metres in height. The city's first skyscraper with a height of over 150 metres was Central Plaza One, completed in 1988. Central Plaza One and Waterfront Place, completed in 1989, remained the city's only skyscrapers until the completion of the 200 metre Riparian Plaza in 2005, which has since been surpassed on numerous occasions in the widespread construction of skyscrapers which has been ongoing since the mid-2000s.
Brisbane plays host to other structures over 150 metres in height such as the five television transmission towers atop Mount Coot-tha and the Bald Hills Radiator transmission tower however these are not considered to be buildings as they are uninhabitable.
Brisbane Skytower (nicknamed Bon Bon) is a 270-metre (890 ft) skyscraper at 222 Margaret Street in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. The 90-storey residential tower is Brisbane's tallest building. It also has the highest infinity pool in the southern hemisphere on the top level at 270 m (level 90) with 180 degree views to the north and south.
Brisbane's tallest building from 2016 to 2019; inhabited by the executive branch of the Queensland Government; nicknamed One Big Willy or the Tower of Power and seen as symbolising the legacy of PremierCampbell Newman.
Tallest building in Brisbane 2005 until 2006; notable for its 50-metre communications mast (not counted in the building's height) and being one of the last projects of renowned architect Harry Seidler. The adjacent Riverside Centre was also designed by Seidler and shares many design elements with Riparian Plaza
Notable for its curved blue glass facade and hosting federal cabinet meetings when these are held in Brisbane at the Commonwealth Parliament Offices on the top floor
A 10-metre digital clock sits atop the building. Before placement of the clock, a rotating restaurant sat atop the building
Hitachi Building (formerly MLC Centre) 239 George Street
1976–1977
141 m (463 ft)
33
A 31 meter weather beacon sits atop the building with lights indicating temperature rise and fall, potential rain and windy conditions, controlled directly from the Australian Bureau of Meteorology. In late November 2007, the weather beacon was turned off. High electricity costs, energy usage, and more modern methods of providing weather forecasting were cited as the reasons for the beacon being turned off. For over 30 years the beacon warned Brisbane residents of the impending weather - the upper white lights for temperature, the lower lights showed continuous white for fine, 1/2 sec flashing white for windy, 2 sec flashing white for clearing, continuous red for rain, 1/2 sec flashing red for strong winds and rain, and 2 sec flashing red for showers.
Tallest building in Brisbane 2005 until 2006; notable for its 50-metre communications mast (not counted in the building's height) and being one of the last projects of renowned architect Harry Seidler. The adjacent Riverside Centre was also designed by Seidler and shares many design elements with Riparian Plaza
Brisbane's tallest building from 2016 until 2018; inhabited by the executive branch of the Queensland Government; nicknamed One Big Willy or the Tower of Power and seen as symbolising the legacy of PremierCampbell Newman