Telstra House (30 Pirie Street)

30 Pirie Street, formerly Telstra House and before that Telecom House, is a high-rise in the Adelaide central business district, on the northern side of Pirie Street. It rises 117 metres and has 23 floors.

Hansen Yuncken built it between 1984 and 1987. When it was finished, Telecom House passed the Grenfell Centre to become the tallest building in Adelaide, but only until the next year, when Westpac House took the title. The tower was owned first by Telstra and later by Australian Unity. A big refurbishment took place in 2019. Telstra moved out in August 2023, and in December 2022 a company called Quintessential bought it for $73 million and gave it the name 30 Pirie Street.

A short time at the top

Adelaide's skyline grew quickly in the 1980s. Telecom House opened in 1987 as the tallest building in the city. Within a year, in 1988, a taller building was finished and took the record. The card describes weathered bronze-grey ribbed cladding, a faceted front with projecting sun-shade fins on every floor, and solid slit-window cores at both ends. Fins like these reduce heat from the sun.

New owners, new name

The building was first built for the telephone company Telecom, which became Telstra. Telstra later sold it to Australian Unity. In December 2022 it was sold again, to Quintessential, a private property company, for $73 million. It was rebranded 30 Pirie Street. Telstra left in August 2023. Buildings often get a new look and name like this when owners change.

On the globe

The model shows a bronze-grey ribbed tower with sun-shade fins, as described on the card.