Australia 108

Australia 108 is a residential supertall skyscraper in the Southbank area of Melbourne, Australia. It was called 70 Southbank Boulevard before it got its current name. The tower is 316.7 metres tall and has 100 floors holding 1,105 apartments. It was designed by Fender Katsalidis Architects and built by Brookfield Multiplex.

Construction began in 2015. The tower reached its full height in June 2020, and it was completed the same year. That made it the tallest building in Australia by roof height, passing the Eureka Tower, and the tallest in Melbourne. When the spire is counted, only Q1 Tower on the Gold Coast is taller. The name 108 comes from an earlier, taller plan for 108 floors, even though the finished tower has 100.

How the plan changed

The first plan in 2009 was for a 72-floor building 226 metres tall, with 532 apartments, offices and a fresh food market. In 2012 a taller version with 108 floors and 388 metres was proposed and approved in 2013. It was shelved a few months later because it did not meet conditions set by authorities for roads and aviation. The final tower was a 100-floor design.

The tower that was almost built

The 388-metre plan included a six-star hotel and a star-shaped sky lobby that would have stuck out 9 metres from the building. The shape was inspired by the Commonwealth Star on the Australian flag. The architects also used feng shui ideas, and the building's name, height and top floor all contain the number 8, which stands for prosperity.

Local leaders argued over it, including the worry that its shadow might fall on the Shrine of Remembrance.

Where it stands

The tower stands at the corner of City Road and Southbank Boulevard. The architects bought the site in April 2008 for 14.2 million Australian dollars. The first design was meant to repeat parts of the nearby Eureka Tower, another Fender Katsalidis building.

On the globe

The model shows a slim, silver glass tower with a stepped crown. Look for the crystal-like top.