Shot Tower, Taroona

The Shot Tower at Taroona is a heritage listed historic building between Hobart and Kingston, Tasmania. It was the tallest building in Australia for four years (1870-1875), and the tallest structure in Tasmania until it was superseded by the Mount Wellington broadcast tower in 1960.[2] The Taroona Shot Tower is believed to be the tallest circular sandstone tower in the world.

The Shot Tower
Taroona Shot Tower
The Shot Tower at Taroona
General information
TypeShot tower
LocationTaroona, Tasmania.
CountryAustralia
Construction started1870
Inaugurated8 September 1870
OwnerTasmanian 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

History
Looking down from the top of the Shot Tower

Joseph Moir a Scotsman skilled in iron-mongering, moved to Hobart in 1829 and bought several parcels of land across the state. 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 the 8th 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.

The shot business was protected by a tariff until the Federation of Australia, but after 1901 then-operator William Baynton could not compete with other shotmakers in Australia, and the business ceased operations in 1905.[3] Baynton's wife ran a tea shop at the base of the tower, marking the beginning of the Tower’s use for tourism. The Shot Tower, surrounding land and buildings were made into Scenery Reserve by the Tasmanian Government in 1956. Since then, the building has been converted into a historic site and is open to tourism. Remaining as it was operated by Mrs Baynton, the tea room is open in the buildings at the base of the Tower.

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.[3][4]

Height

The tower has a height of 58.7 metres (192.6 ft)[5] with a diameter of either 10 metres (33 ft)[6] or 6.37 metres (20.9 ft) at the base[7] with either 258[5][7] or 318 steps.[8]

Legacy

The Taroona Shot Tower was the tallest building in the country for 4 years, and is one of only three remaining shot towers in Australia, with the others being the Clifton Hill Shot Tower and Coop's Shot Tower located within the Melbourne Central Shopping Centre.[8][5] It is the sole claimant for the tallest[6] and first circular sandstone shot tower in the Southern Hemisphere and the only one still open for visitors to enter and climb.[2] The building is listed on the Tasmanian Heritage Register[9] and was listed on the now defunct Register of the National Estate.[10]

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.

References
  1. "Permanent and Provisional Registrations as at 22 Jan 2021" (PDF). Tasmanian Heritage Register. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
  2. "Joseph Moir's Shot Tower". Atlas Obscura. Atlas Obscura.
  3. Alexander, Alison (2006). "The Companion to Tasmanian History - Taroona Shot Tower". www.parks.tas.gov.au. University of Tasmania. Retrieved 5 July 2022.
  4. Jones, Callum J. (25 August 2021). "Tas That Was – The Taroona Shot Tower". www.parks.tas.gov.au. tasmaniantimes.com. Retrieved 5 July 2022.
  5. Norris, Keith (1980). Australia's heritage sketchbook (New ed.). Sydney: Weldon Pub. pp. 30–31. ISBN 1863022988.
  6. "Parks & Wildlife Service - History". www.parks.tas.gov.au. Parks & Wildlife Service. Retrieved 9 June 2016.
  7. "Australian Heritage Database". www.environment.gov.au.
  8. Smith, drawings by Max Angus ; text by Patsy Adam (1982). Hobart sketchbook (Rev. ed.). Adelaide: Rigby. p. 36. ISBN 0727000284.
  9. "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)
  10. "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.

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