AWA Tower facts for kids
Quick facts for kids AWA Tower |
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The AWA Tower
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| General information | |
| Architectural style | Inter-war Art Deco |
| Address | 45-47 York Street, Sydney central business district, City of Sydney, New South Wales |
| Country | Australia |
| Coordinates | 33°52′01″S 151°12′20″E / 33.86694°S 151.20556°E |
| Named for | Amalgamated Wireless Australasia Limited (AWA) |
| Construction started | 1937 |
| Completed | 1939 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architecture firm | Morrow and Gordon |
| Engineer | Robertson, Marks and McCredie |
| 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. Pty Ltd |
The AWA Tower is a famous office building and communications tower in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It was built for a company called Amalgamated Wireless Australasia Limited (AWA). The AWA Tower has a tall radio tower on top of a 15-storey building. You can find it in the heart of Sydney central business district on York Street, near Wynyard Park and Wynyard railway station. The building was designed by Robertson, Marks and McCredie with DT Morrow and Gordon. It was built between 1937 and 1939 by William Hughes and Co. Pty Ltd. This important building was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.
Contents
History of the AWA Tower
The AWA Tower was designed by architects Morrow and Gordon. It was built from 1937 to 1939. This building quickly became one of Sydney's most well-known commercial buildings. It showed off the modern Art Deco style with its geometric shapes. The ground floor was covered in shiny trachyte stone. This design was meant to show that AWA was a forward-thinking company.
Design and Inspiration
The main building was made of steel and brick. It was designed by Robertson, Marks and McCredie. The tower on top was inspired by the Funkturm Tower in Berlin, Germany. 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 until the 1960s.
The tower itself is about 46 metres (151 ft) high. It sits on top of a building that is 55-metre (180 ft) tall. The very top of the tower used to have a viewing platform. This platform was at about 97-metre (318 ft) above the street.
Symbols and Signs
The building has special decorations that represent communication. One of these is a sculpture of a winged Pegasus. This mythical horse was chosen by Sir Ernest Fisk. He was a pioneer in wireless technology and helped start AWA. For a long time, the tower had a sign that said "Beam Wireless". This was a service that used radio to connect ships between England and Australia.
In the 1960s, AWA was the first company to make televisions in Australia. Because of this, large neon AWA logos were put on the building. Later, the company made many other electronic products, including gaming systems. In 2000, the company changed ownership. The building was then sold to the Jupiter's Casino Group. Even though the big red AWA signs were taken down, the building is still known as the AWA building. The tower was rebuilt in 1994. It still lights up at night, but the viewing platform is no longer there.
AWA Tower in Movies
The AWA Tower, with its famous logo, even appeared in the science fiction movie The Matrix. You can see the tower below as Neo and Trinity rescue Morpheus by helicopter.
What the AWA Tower Looks Like
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 metres (60 ft) wide. The side along York Lane is about 21.3 metres (70 ft) wide. The steel tower on top makes the whole building about 111 metres (364 ft) tall from the street. The building is made with a steel frame and covered in brick. The ground floor has shiny trachyte stone.
Building Design Details
The building's design makes it look like a tall skyscraper. A sculpture of Pegasus, the winged horse, is carved into the brick wall at the top. Sir Ernest Fisk chose Pegasus because it fit well with AWA's work in wireless communication. The building still has its original special double-glazed windows. The communications tower was designed to be a key part of the building. Its supports are built right into the building's structure.
Inside the Building
The main entrance area on York Street is decorated with Wombeyan Russet marble. It has simple Art Deco designs and the letters AWA above the door. The old main ground floor area still has its original silver ash wood panels. Above these panels, there are plaster sculptures made by Otto Steen. These sculptures show three main themes. 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 symbols represent how radio connects the world. The old entrance lobby also has a map of the world carved into the polished trachyte wall. This map is above the doors to the auditorium.
Other important rooms inside include the fifth-floor Boardroom. The lifts in the building were made and installed by White Elevators Pty Ltd.
Construction of AWA Tower Building 1938-1939
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Construction of the AWA Building and Tower, 19 October 1938, Arthur Ernest Foster
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Construction of the AWA Building and Tower, 17 November 1938, Arthur Ernest Foster
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Construction of the AWA Building and Tower, c. February 1939, Arthur Ernest Foster
Why the AWA Tower is Important (Heritage Listing)
The AWA Building and Tower is very important because of its connection to radio and communication technology. It is a great example of how buildings in the 1930s tried to combine architecture with new technology. For a while, the tower was the tallest structure in Sydney. It is still a very recognizable landmark today.
The AWA Tower was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999. This means it is protected because it meets certain important standards.
Historical Importance
The AWA Building and Tower is historically important. For more than twenty years, it was the tallest building in Sydney. The building and its tower are still a major landmark in the city.
Artistic and Technical Importance
The AWA Building and Tower is also important for its beauty and design. It is a simple, tall skyscraper that shows the best of 1930s design. It combined architecture with technology. It is part of a group of important Art Deco office buildings on York Street.
Social Importance
The AWA Building and Tower is socially important. It is linked to the growth of radio and communication technology in Australia.
See also
In Spanish: Torre AWA para niños
- Architecture of Sydney
- Tokyo Tower
