AWA Tower facts for kids

Quick facts for kids AWA Tower
The AWA Tower viewed from the east end of Wynyard Street, c.1939
General information
Architectural style	Inter-war Art Deco
Address	45-47 York Street, Sydney, New South Wales
Country	Australia
Coordinates	33°52′01″S 151°12′20″E / 33.86694°S 151.20556°E / -33.86694; 151.20556
Named for	AWA
Construction started	1937
Completed	1939
Design and construction
Architecture firm	Morrow and Gordon
Engineer	Robertson, Marks and McCredie
New South Wales Heritage Register
Official name: AWA Building and Tower; Beam Wireless (former major sign on tower)
Type:	state heritage (built)
Criteria:	a., c., d.
Designated:	2 April 1999
Reference #:	665
Type:	Telecommunications Facility
Category:	Postal and Telecommunications
Builders:	William Hughes and Co

The AWA Tower is a famous building in Sydney, Australia. It's a tall office building with a radio tower on top. This building is considered a heritage site. It was built for a company called AWA.

The AWA Tower is in the middle of Sydney central business district. You can find it on York Street, near Wynyard Park and Wynyard railway station. It was designed by architects Robertson, Marks and McCredie, along with DT Morrow and Gordon. The building was constructed between 1937 and 1939. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on April 2, 1999.

History of the AWA Tower

The AWA Tower from Wynyard Street in 1939

The AWA Tower was designed by Morrow and Gordon. It was built between 1937 and 1939. It quickly became one of Sydney's most important commercial buildings. The building shows off the Art Deco style with its geometric shapes. Its polished stone at the bottom made it look modern and forward-thinking.

The main building was made of steel and brick. It was designed by Robertson, Marks and McCredie. The radio tower on top was inspired by the Funkturm Tower in Berlin. Both towers also took ideas from the famous Eiffel Tower in Paris.

The communications tower was a key part of the building. For many years, it was the tallest structure in Sydney. Only the Sydney Harbour Bridge was taller. The tower itself is about 46 meters (151 feet) tall. It sits on top of a 55-meter (180 feet) building. There used to be a viewing platform at 97 meters (318 feet) high.

Symbols and Signs on the Tower

The building has special decorations related to communication. One of these is a winged Pegasus, a mythical horse. Sir Ernest Fisk, a wireless technology pioneer, chose this symbol. He was also a founder of the AWA company.

For many years, the tower had a sign that said "Beam Wireless." This was a service that allowed radio contact with ships. It helped connect Australia with England starting in 1927.

AWA was the first company to make televisions in Australia. In the 1960s, large neon AWA signs were put on the building. These signs showed that the company was a leader in television. Later, AWA made many other electronic products, including gaming systems.

In 2000, the AWA company closed down. The building was then sold to Jupiter's Casino Group. The building is protected by a special order to keep it safe. It is still known as the AWA building, even though the big red AWA signs are gone. The tower was taken down and rebuilt in 1994. It still lights up at night, but the viewing platform is no longer there.

The AWA Tower, with its logo, appeared in the science fiction movie The Matrix. You can see it when the characters Neo and Trinity rescue Morpheus. The tower is visible below them as they escape in a helicopter.

Design and Features

The AWA Tower building has 12 office floors, a ground floor, and a basement. The front of the building on York Street is about 18.3 meters (60 feet) wide. The side along York Lane is about 21.3 meters (70 feet) wide. The steel tower on top makes the whole building about 111 meters (364 feet) tall from the street. The building has a steel frame and is covered in brick. The ground floor is covered with polished trachyte stone.

The building's design makes it look like a tall skyscraper. A sculpture of Pegasus, the winged horse, is on a brick wall at the top. Sir Ernest Fisk chose Pegasus to represent AWA's work in wireless technology. The building still has its original double-glazed windows, designed by Fisk. The communications tower was planned as part of the building. Its supports are built into the building's structure.

Inside the AWA Tower

The main entrance area and lift lobby on York Street are decorated with Wombeyan Russet marble. They have simple Art Deco designs. The letters AWA are above the entrance. The main ground floor area still has its original silver ash wood panels. Above these panels are special plaster sculptures made by Otto Steen.

These sculptures show three main ideas. In each corner, there are figures representing the four ancient elements: earth, water, fire, and air. Above the entrance, around an AWA symbol, are the signs of the zodiac. Smaller sculptures along the north and south walls show different nations. These represent how radio connects the world. The old entrance lobby also has a map of the world carved into the polished stone wall. This map is above the doors to the auditorium.

Other important rooms inside include the fifth-floor Boardroom. This room also has its original offices and an executive bathroom. The lifts in the building were made, installed, and kept working by White Elevators Pty Ltd. This company is located in Alexandria.

Building the AWA Tower (1938-1939)

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  Construction of the AWA Building and Tower, October 19, 1938, by Arthur Ernest Foster

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  Construction of the AWA Building and Tower, November 17, 1938, by Arthur Ernest Foster

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  Construction of the AWA Building and Tower, around February 1939, by Arthur Ernest Foster

Building Condition

The AWA Tower is in excellent physical condition. It was built between 1937 and 1939.

Why the AWA Tower is Important

The AWA Building and Tower is important because of its connection to radio and communication technology. It is a simple, tall skyscraper. It shows how buildings and technology were brought together in the 1930s. The tower was once the tallest structure in Sydney. It is still a very noticeable landmark today.

The AWA Tower was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on April 2, 1999. It met several important requirements:

• It shows how history unfolded in New South Wales.

The AWA Building and Tower is historically important. For over 20 years, it was the tallest building in Sydney. The building and its tower are still an important landmark today.

• It shows great design and technical skill.

The AWA Building and Tower is beautiful. It is a simple, tall skyscraper that perfectly combines architecture with technology. It is also part of a group of important Art Deco office buildings on York Street.

• It has a special connection to the community.

The AWA Building and Tower is socially important. It is linked to the growth of radio and communication technology and industry.

See also

In Spanish: Torre AWA para niños

• Architecture of Sydney
• Tokyo Tower