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List of tallest buildings in Melbourne facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Melbourne is a big city in Australia, and it has lots of tall buildings! It's home to about 758 completed high-rise buildings. Out of these, 77 are called "skyscrapers," which means they are at least 150 meters (about 492 feet) tall. That's more skyscrapers than any other city in Australia! Melbourne's skyline is the tallest in the Oceania region and ranks as the 24th tallest in the world for its number of skyscrapers.

Melbourne has five of the ten tallest buildings in Australia. The tallest building in Melbourne right now is Australia 108. It has 100 floors and stands 317 meters (about 1,040 feet) tall. It's the second-tallest building in Australia overall, but it's the tallest if you only count up to the roof!

Most of Melbourne's tallest skyscrapers are found in the City Centre. But you can also find tall buildings in other areas like Carlton, Docklands, Southbank, South Melbourne, South Yarra, and St Kilda Road. The City Centre has a famous grid of streets called the Hoddle Grid. Here, you'll see tall buildings grouped together in the western financial area and another group in the eastern part.

Melbourne has a history of being first in many ways when it comes to tall buildings. It was one of the first cities in the world to build many tall office buildings, similar to New York City and Chicago. Melbourne also had Australia's first high-rise, the APA Building, built way back in 1889. Later, in 1958, ICI House became Australia's first modern high-rise after World War II. For many years, from 1986 to 2005, Melbourne had the tallest building in Australia, including the Rialto Towers, 101 Collins Street, and 120 Collins Street.

How Melbourne's Skyscrapers Grew

Panorama of the intersection of Collins and Queen Streets, Melbourne, 1903 - by Melvin Vaniman (31568774883)
The intersection of Collins Street and Queens Street in 1903.
Aerial view of Melbourne in 1956. Image crop
An aerial view of Melbourne in 1956.
Melbourne skyline - cropped and contrast
The skyline of Melbourne city from Williamstown in June 2015.

Early Skyscrapers: The 1800s

In the late 1880s, Melbourne had a big building boom. About a dozen "lofty edifices" (tall buildings) with 8 to 10 floors were built. This was possible because a special water pressure system helped operate the lifts (elevators). The APA Building was the tallest at 12 floors plus a spire. When it was finished in 1889, it was Australia's first "skyscraper" and one of the tallest buildings in the world!

Most of these early skyscrapers were built in a fancy style with detailed decorations. Sadly, most of them were torn down in the 1960s and 1970s. The APA Building was controversially demolished in 1981.

Building Limits and Modern Towers: The 1900s

After a lot of discussion, Melbourne set a height limit of 40 meters (about 131 feet) for buildings in 1916. This rule was put in place to make sure there was enough light and fresh air on the streets. It also helped prevent too much traffic. This height limit lasted for almost 40 years.

In the late 1950s, Melbourne started a new building boom after World War II. ICI House, built in 1955, was the first "modern high-rise" in Australia. It was 81 meters (about 266 feet) tall. This building was allowed to be taller because it included an open garden space at ground level. This idea helped change building rules, focusing on how much floor area a building could have, rather than just its height.

In 1972, 140 William Street became Melbourne's first building to go over 150 meters (about 492 feet), making it the city's first true "skyscraper." It was the tallest for a few years. Then came the Optus Centre in 1975, and Nauru House in 1977, which reached 182 meters (about 597 feet). By the early 1980s, Melbourne had six buildings over 150 meters tall.

In 1986, the Rialto Towers became the tallest building in Australia and the whole Southern Hemisphere, standing at 251 meters (about 823 feet). It was even the 25th tallest building in the world at that time! The 1990s saw nine more buildings over 150 meters, with five of them over 200 meters (about 656 feet). In 1991, 101 Collins Street became the tallest in Australia, but it was quickly beaten by 120 Collins Street later that same year. 120 Collins Street, at 266 meters (about 873 feet), held the title of Australia's tallest building for 14 years!

The Skyscraper Boom: The 2000s and Beyond

Eureka Tower Australia 108
Melbourne's two tallest buildings, Eureka Tower (left) and Australia 108 (right), were built in 2006 and 2020.

The 2000s brought more than 20 new high-rise buildings. The Eureka Tower, completed in 2006, became Melbourne's tallest building. It was also the second-tallest in Australia and the tallest residential building in the world to its roof for a while!

The 2010s saw a huge increase in skyscraper construction. This period was even called the "Manhattanization of Melbourne" because so many tall buildings were going up, like in New York City. Between 2010 and 2019, 22 new skyscrapers were built!

In 2015, new rules were put in place to limit building heights in the City Centre and parts of Southbank to about 229 meters (about 751 feet). However, buildings that were planned before these rules, like Australia 108, were allowed to be taller.

The 2020s started with the completion of Australia 108. It took the title of Melbourne's tallest building from Eureka Tower and became the tallest building in Australia to its roof. It's also the first skyscraper in the Southern Hemisphere to have at least 100 floors! Australia 108 is considered a "supertall" skyscraper, meaning it's between 300 and 599 meters tall. In 2021 alone, 12 skyscrapers were completed in Melbourne, which is a record!

Melbourne has had the most skyscrapers in Australia and the whole Oceania region for over 35 years in total. This has added to the friendly competition between Melbourne and Sydney!

Where are Melbourne's Tallest Buildings?

Melbourne's skyline is split into two main parts: the east and the west, divided by Swanston Street. On the eastern side, the tallest buildings are 120 Collins Street and 101 Collins Street. On the western side, you'll find the Rialto Towers, 568 Collins Street, and Bourke Place.

Many new tall buildings have also appeared outside the main City Centre, especially in the inner-city area of Southbank. This area is right next to the City Centre and is home to some of Melbourne's very tallest buildings, including Australia 108, Eureka Tower, and Prima Pearl.

Other suburbs like South Yarra, St Kilda Road, Carlton, and Docklands each have at least one skyscraper. Even more skyscrapers are planned or approved for areas like Port Melbourne and South Melbourne.

What are Skyscrapers Used For?

Most of Melbourne's skyscrapers built before the 1990s were used as offices for businesses. Some exceptions included the mixed-use Sofitel Hotel (meaning it had different uses) and the Crown Towers, which was all hotel rooms.

Around 2005, the first residential skyscrapers (buildings where people live) started appearing in Melbourne. By 2010, most skyscrapers were still offices (72%), but 12% were homes, 12% were mixed-use, and 4% were hotels. The trend for residential skyscrapers has grown a lot! By 2015, 26% of skyscrapers were residential. This number is expected to keep growing, with residential buildings making up a large portion of the city's skyscrapers.

Completed Skyscrapers

Melbourne city skyline in January 2020
The skyline of Melbourne city from Williamstown in January 2020.
Melbourne City Centre
57 skyscrapers completed
1 skyscraper topped-out
3 skyscrapers under construction
Southbank
15 skyscrapers completed
1 skyscraper under construction
St Kilda Road
1 skyscraper completed
Carlton
1 skyscraper completed
South Yarra
1 skyscraper completed
Docklands
1 skyscraper completed
1 skyscraper under construction

Melbourne's Tallest Buildings (150m+)

Melbourne has 77 skyscrapers that are completed or "topped out" (meaning their main structure is finished). These buildings are at least 150 meters (about 492 feet) tall. This height includes spires and decorative parts, but not antennas. Buildings marked with an equal sign (=) have the same height. If there's an asterisk (*), it means the building is still being built but has reached its full height. The "Built" column shows when the building was finished.

     Was Melbourne's tallest building when completed

Rank Name
(Street address)
Image Height Total floors Built Purpose Location Notes
S R
1 Australia 108
(70 Southbank Boulevard)
Australia 108, in 2020.png 316.7 m
(1,039 ft)
100 2020 Residential Southbank
37°49′23″S 144°57′50″E / 37.82306°S 144.96389°E / -37.82306; 144.96389
2nd-tallest building in Australia; tallest building in Australia to roof. It was completed in 2020. It's the tallest residential building in Australia to its roof. It's also the first "supertall" skyscraper in Melbourne and the first in the Southern Hemisphere with at least 100 floors.
2 Eureka Tower
(7 Riverside Quay)
Eureka Tower, August 2010.png 297.3 m
(975 ft)
91 2006 Residential Southbank
37°49′18″S 144°57′52″E / 37.82167°S 144.96444°E / -37.82167; 144.96444
3rd-tallest building in Australia; 2nd-tallest building in Australia to roof. Completed in 2006, it was the world's tallest residential tower by its highest floor for a time. It was the tallest building in Australia to its roof from 2006 to 2020.
3 Aurora Melbourne Central
(250 La Trobe Street)
Aurora Melbourne Central in September 2019.png 270.5 m
(887 ft)
85 2019 Mixed use City Centre
37°48′35.2″S 144°57′44.8″E / 37.809778°S 144.962444°E / -37.809778; 144.962444
5th-tallest building in Australia. Completed in 2019. It's the tallest building in Melbourne's City Centre.
4 West Side Place Tower A (250 Spencer Street) West Side Place Tower One in October 2021.jpg 268.7 m
(882 ft)
81 2021 Mixed use City Centre
37°48′51.5″S 144°57′9.5″E / 37.814306°S 144.952639°E / -37.814306; 144.952639
7th-tallest building in Australia. Completed in 2021. It's the tallest building in the West Side Place complex.
5 120 Collins Street 120 Collins Street, Jan. 2016 (darker).png 266.6 m
(875 ft)
222.2 m
(729 ft)
52 1991 Office City Centre
37°48′51.2″S 144°58′10.9″E / 37.814222°S 144.969694°E / -37.814222; 144.969694
8th-tallest building in Australia. Completed in 1991, it was the tallest building in Australia until 2005. It's also the tallest office building in Australia.
6 101 Collins Street 101 Collins Street, Jan. 2016.png 260 m
(853 ft)
195 m
(640 ft)
50 1991 Office City Centre
37°48′54″S 144°58′14.8″E / 37.81500°S 144.970778°E / -37.81500; 144.970778
11th-tallest building in Australia. Completed in 1991, it was briefly the tallest building in Australia before 120 Collins Street was finished later that year.
7 Prima Pearl
(31–49 Queensbridge Square)
Pearl Tower.jpg 254 m
(833 ft)
72 2014 Residential Southbank
37°49′22.6″S 144°57′41.0″E / 37.822944°S 144.961389°E / -37.822944; 144.961389
14th-tallest building in Australia. Completed in 2014.
8 Queens Place North Tower
(350 Queen Street)
Queens Place North Tower in December 2022 crop.png 252.8 m
(829 ft)
79 2021 Residential City Centre
37°48′36″S 144°57′33″E / 37.81000°S 144.95917°E / -37.81000; 144.95917
15th-tallest building in Australia. Completed in 2021.
9 Rialto Towers
(525 Collins Street)
Rialto Towers in Aug. 2015 (cropped).jpg 251.1 m
(824 ft)
63 1986 Office City Centre
37°49′7.4″S 144°57′26.9″E / 37.818722°S 144.957472°E / -37.818722; 144.957472
17th-tallest building in Australia. Completed in 1986, it became the tallest building in Australia and the 25th-tallest in the world. It was the tallest building in Australia to its roof until 2006.
10 Victoria One
(452 Elizabeth Street)
Victoria One in September 2023.png 246.8 m
(810 ft)
76 2018 Residential City Centre
37°48′30.1″S 144°57′38.6″E / 37.808361°S 144.960722°E / -37.808361; 144.960722
20th-tallest building in Australia. Completed in 2018.
11 Premier Tower
(134–160 Spencer Street)
Premier Tower in June 2021.png 245.9 m
(807 ft)
78 2021 Mixed use City Centre
37°49′2.5″S 144°57′13.4″E / 37.817361°S 144.953722°E / -37.817361; 144.953722
21st-tallest building in Australia. Completed in 2021.
12 West Side Place Tower D
(250 Spencer Street)
239 m
(784 ft)
72 2023 Residential City Centre
37°48′50.5″S 144°57′11.7″E / 37.814028°S 144.953250°E / -37.814028; 144.953250
27th-tallest building in Australia. Completed in 2023. It's the second-tallest building in the West Side Place complex.
13 Swanston Central
(168 Victoria Street)
Swanston Central in December 2022 crop.png 236.7 m
(777 ft)
71 2019 Mixed use Carlton
37°48′16.7″S 144°56′42.4″E / 37.804639°S 144.945111°E / -37.804639; 144.945111
28th-tallest building in Australia. Completed in 2019. It's the tallest building in the Carlton area of Melbourne.
14 Shangri-La by the Gardens
(308 Exhibition Street)
Shangri-La by the Gardens under construction in March 2022.png 231.7 m
(760 ft)
59 2023 Hotel City Centre
37°48′29.9″S 144°58′9.6″E / 37.808306°S 144.969333°E / -37.808306; 144.969333
30th-tallest building in Australia. Completed in 2023, it became the tallest all-hotel building in Australia.
15 Melbourne Square Tower 1
(93–119 Kavanagh Street)
Melbourne Square Tower 1 in November 2021.png 231 m
(758 ft)
70 2021 Residential Southbank
37°49′33.5″S 144°57′48.4″E / 37.825972°S 144.963444°E / -37.825972; 144.963444
31st-tallest building in Australia. Completed in 2021. It's the tallest building in the Melbourne Square complex.
16 West Side Place Tower C
(250 Spencer Street)
230 m
(755 ft)
70 2023 Residential City Centre
37°48′52.1″S 144°57′12.5″E / 37.814472°S 144.953472°E / -37.814472; 144.953472
Equal 32nd-tallest building in Australia. Completed in 2023. It's the 3rd-tallest building in the West Side Place complex.
17 Vision Apartments
(500 Elizabeth Street)
Vision apartments in September 2023.png 229 m
(751 ft)
70 2016 Residential City Centre
37°48′26″S 144°57′36.8″E / 37.80722°S 144.960222°E / -37.80722; 144.960222
34th-tallest building in Australia. Completed in 2016.
18 = 568 Collins Street 568 Collins Street, Melbourne.jpg 224 m
(735 ft)
68 2015 Mixed use City Centre
37°49′6.1″S 144°57′19.6″E / 37.818361°S 144.955444°E / -37.818361; 144.955444
Equal 37th-tallest building in Australia. Completed in 2015.
18 = Bourke Place
(600 Bourke Street)
Bourke Place 2008.jpg 224 m
(735 ft)
49 1991 Office City Centre
37°48′57″S 144°57′21.7″E / 37.81583°S 144.956028°E / -37.81583; 144.956028
Equal 37th-tallest building in Australia. Completed in 1991.
20 Sapphire by the Gardens
(308 Exhibition Street)
Sapphire by the Gardens under construction in March 2022.png 218.8 m
(718 ft)
57 2022 Residential City Centre
37°48′29.4″S 144°58′11.2″E / 37.808167°S 144.969778°E / -37.808167; 144.969778
41st-tallest building in Australia. Completed in 2022.
21 = Light House Melbourne
(450 Elizabeth Street)
Light House Melbourne, May 2017, edited.jpg 218 m
(715 ft)
69 2017 Residential City Centre
37°48′30.1″S 144°57′38.6″E / 37.808361°S 144.960722°E / -37.808361; 144.960722
Equal 43rd-tallest building in Australia. Completed in 2017.
21 = Telstra Corporate Centre
(242 Exhibition Street)
Telstra Corporate Centre, cropped.png 218 m
(715 ft)
193 m
(633 ft)
47 1992 Office City Centre
37°48′34.1″S 144°58′10.9″E / 37.809472°S 144.969694°E / -37.809472; 144.969694
Equal 43rd-tallest building in Australia.
23 380 Melbourne
(380 Lonsdale Street)
380 Lonsdale Street Melbourne in April 2022.png 217.5 m
(714 ft)
67 2021 Mixed use City Centre
37°48′44.79″S 144°57′40.2″E / 37.8124417°S 144.961167°E / -37.8124417; 144.961167
46th-tallest building in Australia. Completed in 2021.
24 Melbourne Central
(350 Elizabeth Street)
211 m
(692 ft)
53 1991 Office City Centre
37°48′39.2″S 144°57′43.2″E / 37.810889°S 144.962000°E / -37.810889; 144.962000
50th-tallest building in Australia. Completed in 1991.
25 Aspire Melbourne
(299 King Street)
210.6 m
(691 ft)
65 2023 Residential City Centre
37°48′48.2″S 144°57′14.4″E / 37.813389°S 144.954000°E / -37.813389; 144.954000
Completed in 2023.
26 UNO Melbourne
(111 A'Beckett Street)
210 m
(689 ft)
65 2023 Residential City Centre
37°48′34.7″S 144°57′36.5″E / 37.809639°S 144.960139°E / -37.809639; 144.960139
Completed in 2023.
27 West Side Place Tower B
(250 Spencer Street)
West Side Place Tower Two in October 2021.png 206 m
(676 ft)
65 2021 Mixed use City Centre
37°48′51.5″S 144°57′8.9″E / 37.814306°S 144.952472°E / -37.814306; 144.952472
Completed in 2021. It's the 4th-tallest building in the West Side Place complex.
28 Freshwater Place North
(1 Queensbridge Square)
205 m
(673 ft)
63 2005 Residential Southbank
37°49′18.7″S 144°57′41.5″E / 37.821861°S 144.961528°E / -37.821861; 144.961528
Completed in 2005.
29 Eq. Tower
(127–141 A'Beckett Street)
Eq Tower, Feb 2017.jpg 202 m
(663 ft)
63 2017 Residential City Centre
37°48′35.1″S 144°57′34.8″E / 37.809750°S 144.959667°E / -37.809750; 144.959667
Completed in 2017.
30 Empire Melbourne
(398 Elizabeth Street)
198.4 m
(651 ft)
62 2017 Mixed use City Centre
37°48′33.8″S 144°57′40.3″E / 37.809389°S 144.961194°E / -37.809389; 144.961194
Completed in 2017.
31 = Home Southbank
(258 City Road)
Home Southbank UC in April 2021.jpg 198 m
(650 ft)
60 2022 Residential Southbank
37°49′18.7″S 144°57′57.1″E / 37.821861°S 144.965861°E / -37.821861; 144.965861
Completed in 2022.
31 = Melbourne Grand
(556–558 Lonsdale Street)
Melbourne Grand in November 2022.jpg 198 m
(650 ft)
57 2020 Residential City Centre
37°48′50.5″S 144°57′21.1″E / 37.814028°S 144.955861°E / -37.814028; 144.955861
Completed in 2020.
33 Collins House
(466 Collins Street)
190 m
(623 ft)
59 2019 Residential City Centre
37°49′3.25″S 144°57′31.1″E / 37.8175694°S 144.958639°E / -37.8175694; 144.958639
Completed in 2019.
34 80 Collins South
(80 Collins Street)
80 Collins South UC in October 2019.png 188.4 m
(618 ft)
41 2020 Office City Centre
37°48′50.6″S 144°58′14.7″E / 37.814056°S 144.970750°E / -37.814056; 144.970750
Completed in 2020.
35 = Sofitel Hotel at Collins Place
(35 Collins Street)
35CollinStreet1.JPG 188 m
(617 ft)
50 1980 Mixed use City Centre
37°48′50″S 144°58′22.9″E / 37.81389°S 144.973028°E / -37.81389; 144.973028
Completed in 1980. It became the city's tallest building (tied with ANZ Tower at Collins Place) until 1986.
35 = ANZ Tower at Collins Place
(55 Collins Street)
Collins Place (ANZ) 2008.jpg 188 m
(617 ft)
46 1978 Office City Centre
37°48′51.6″S 144°58′20.6″E / 37.814333°S 144.972389°E / -37.814333; 144.972389
Completed in 1978. It became the city's tallest building and was tied with the Sofitel Hotel from 1980 to 1986.
35 = Meriton Suites
(140 King Street)
Meriton suites.png 188 m
(617 ft)
58 2023 Residential City Centre
37°49′0.3″S 144°57′22.2″E / 37.816750°S 144.956167°E / -37.816750; 144.956167
Completed in 2023.
38 Abode318
(312–318 Russell Street)
Abode318.png 187.3 m
(615 ft)
57 2015 Residential City Centre
37°48′33.2″S 144°58′0.3″E / 37.809222°S 144.966750°E / -37.809222; 144.966750
Completed in 2015.
39 80 Collins Street Nauru house.JPG 182 m
(597 ft)
54 1977 Office City Centre
37°48′50.6″S 144°58′14.7″E / 37.814056°S 144.970750°E / -37.814056; 144.970750
Completed in 1977, it was briefly the city's tallest building.
40 Victoria Police Centre Tower 2
(311 Spencer Street)
VicPol UC in July 2019.png 180 m
(591 ft)
40 2020 Office Docklands
37°49′4.8″S 144°57′12.9″E / 37.818000°S 144.953583°E / -37.818000; 144.953583
Completed in 2020. It's the tallest building in the Docklands area of Melbourne.
41 Melbourne Square Tower 2
(93–119 Kavanagh Street)
Melbourne Square Tower 2 in November 2021.png 179 m
(587 ft)
59 2021 Mixed use Southbank
37°49′33.3″S 144°57′50.4″E / 37.825917°S 144.964000°E / -37.825917; 144.964000
Completed in 2021. It's the 2nd-tallest building in the Melbourne Square complex.
42 Capitol Grand
(241 Toorak Road)
LK Tower UC in September 2019, crop.png 178 m
(584 ft)
50 2019 Residential South Yarra
37°50′21.3″S 144°59′42.7″E / 37.839250°S 144.995194°E / -37.839250; 144.995194
Completed in 2019. It's the tallest building in the South Yarra area of Melbourne.
43 Scape on Franklin
(97 Franklin Street)
175 m
(574 ft)
55 2021 Mixed use City Centre
37°48′29″S 144°57′40″E / 37.80806°S 144.96111°E / -37.80806; 144.96111
Completed in 2021.
44 = MY80
(410 Elizabeth Street)
173 m
(568 ft)
55 2014 Residential City Centre
37°48′32.3″S 144°57′39.6″E / 37.808972°S 144.961000°E / -37.808972; 144.961000
Completed in 2014.
44 = 405 Bourke Street 405 Bourke Street Melbourne, January 2023.png 173 m
(568 ft)
39 2021 Office City Centre
37°48′54″S 144°57′43″E / 37.81500°S 144.96194°E / -37.81500; 144.96194
Completed in 2021.
46 Avant
(54 A'Beckett Street)
AVANT skyscraper under construction in June 2018.png 172 m
(564 ft)
55 2018 Residential City Centre
37°48′31.8″S 144°57′41.9″E / 37.808833°S 144.961639°E / -37.808833; 144.961639
Completed in 2018.
47 Upper West Side Tower 5
(33 Rose Lane)
170 m
(558 ft)
53 2016 Residential City Centre
37°48′53.6″S 144°57′14.1″E / 37.814889°S 144.953917°E / -37.814889; 144.953917
Completed in 2016. It's the tallest building in the Upper West Side complex.
48 385 Bourke Street 385 Bourke Street 2017.jpg 169 m
(554 ft)
43 1983 Office City Centre
37°48′53.1″S 144°57′46.3″E / 37.814750°S 144.962861°E / -37.814750; 144.962861
49 Olderfleet
(477 Collins Street)
Olderfleet in April 2021.png 168 m
(551 ft)
40 2020 Office City Centre
37°49′5″S 144°57′30″E / 37.81806°S 144.95833°E / -37.81806; 144.95833
Completed in 2020.
50 Zen Apartments
(27 Therry Street)
Zen Apartments in December 2013 crop.png 167.8 m
(551 ft)
50 2012 Residential City Centre
37°48′25″S 144°57′39.8″E / 37.80694°S 144.961056°E / -37.80694; 144.961056
Completed in 2012.
51 = Platinum Tower One
(245–263 City Road)
Platinum Tower, Jan. 2016 1.png 167 m
(548 ft)
52 2016 Residential Southbank
37°49′36.5″S 144°57′33.9″E / 37.826806°S 144.959417°E / -37.826806; 144.959417
Completed in 2016.
51 = 530 Collins Street 530 Collins Street.jpg 167 m
(548 ft)
40 1991 Office City Centre
37°49′4″S 144°57′24.4″E / 37.81778°S 144.956778°E / -37.81778; 144.956778
53 = Southbank Place
(54–68 Kavanagh Street)
Southbank Place Topped Out in November 2019, crop.png 166 m
(545 ft)
52 2019 Residential Southbank
37°49′27.5″S 144°57′49.4″E / 37.824306°S 144.963722°E / -37.824306; 144.963722
Completed in 2019.
53 = Focus Melbourne
(71–87 City Road)
166 m
(545 ft)
50 2022 Residential Southbank
37°49′20″S 144°57′55.8″E / 37.82222°S 144.965500°E / -37.82222; 144.965500
Completed in 2022.
53 = Casselden Place
(2 Lonsdale Street)
Casselden Place in 2014.jpg 166 m
(545 ft)
43 1992 Office City Centre
37°48′33.5″S 144°58′17.6″E / 37.809306°S 144.971556°E / -37.809306; 144.971556
56 The Fifth
(605–613 Lonsdale Street)
165.5 m
(543 ft)
51 2017 Residential City Centre
37°48′56″S 144°57′11″E / 37.81556°S 144.95306°E / -37.81556; 144.95306
Completed in 2017. It's the second-tallest building in the Upper West Side complex.
57 Ernst & Young Tower
(8 Exhibition Street)
Ernst & Young Tower, 2006.jpg 164.7 m
(540 ft)
40 2005 Mixed use City Centre
37°48′55.4″S 144°58′22″E / 37.815389°S 144.97278°E / -37.815389; 144.97278
Completed in 2005.
58 35 Spring Street 35 Spring Street UC, in July 2016.png 164.4 m
(539 ft)
44 2017 Residential City Centre
37°48′51″S 144°58′26.5″E / 37.81417°S 144.974028°E / -37.81417; 144.974028
Completed in 2017.
59 SX Stage 1
(121 Exhibition Street)
Southern cross tower.jpg 163 m
(535 ft)
40 2005 Office City Centre
37°48′45.4″S 144°58′13.2″E / 37.812611°S 144.970333°E / -37.812611; 144.970333
Completed in 2005.
60 = Royal Domain Tower
(368 St Kilda Road)
Royal Domain Tower, 2013.jpg 162 m
(531 ft)
46 2005 Residential St Kilda Road
37°49′54.2″S 144°58′16.3″E / 37.831722°S 144.971194°E / -37.831722; 144.971194
Completed in 2005. It's the tallest building in the St Kilda Road area of Melbourne.
60 = 100 Queen Street
(Former ANZ World Headquarters)
Anz world headquarters queen street melbourne.jpg 162 m
(531 ft)
37 1993 Office City Centre
37°48′59.7″S 144°57′42.3″E / 37.816583°S 144.961750°E / -37.816583; 144.961750
62 = Unilodge Place
(478-488 Elizabeth Street)
UniLodge Melbourne in February 2022.jpg 161 m
(528 ft)
52 2021 Residential City Centre
37°48′28″S 144°57′38″E / 37.80778°S 144.96056°E / -37.80778; 144.96056
Completed in 2021.
62 = National Bank House
(500 Bourke Street)
Nab tower Melb.jpg 161 m
(528 ft)
40 1978 Office City Centre
37°48′54.4″S 144°57′31.6″E / 37.815111°S 144.958778°E / -37.815111; 144.958778
64 2 Southbank Boulevard 2 Southbank Boulevard in December 2014.png 160.8 m
(528 ft)
40 2005 Office Southbank
37°49′17.5″S 144°57′44.8″E / 37.821528°S 144.962444°E / -37.821528; 144.962444
Completed in 2005.
65 Verve 501 Swanston Tower
(501 Swanston Street)
Verve 501 Swanston Tower in 2011.jpg 159 m
(522 ft)
45 2006 Mixed use City Centre
37°48′24.8″S 144°57′42.4″E / 37.806889°S 144.961778°E / -37.806889; 144.961778
Completed in 2006.
66 Wesley Place
(130 Lonsdale Street)
Wesley Place UC in October 2019.png 156.5 m
(513 ft)
35 2020 Office City Centre
37°48′42.6″S 144°57′48.9″E / 37.811833°S 144.963583°E / -37.811833; 144.963583
Completed in 2020.
67 = Upper West Side Tower 2
(Lonsdale Street)
UWS Madison, June 2015.jpg 156 m
(512 ft)
50 2014 Residential City Centre
37°48′54.5″S 144°57′14″E / 37.815139°S 144.95389°E / -37.815139; 144.95389
Completed in 2014. It's the 3rd-tallest building in the Upper West Side complex.
67 = Palladium Tower
(251 City Road)
156 m
(512 ft)
47 2020 Residential Southbank
37°49′20.0″S 144°57′52.7″E / 37.822222°S 144.964639°E / -37.822222; 144.964639
Completed in 2020.
69 Paragon
(318 Queen Street)
155 m
(509 ft)
48 2021 Residential City Centre
37°48′40.7″S 144°57′33.5″E / 37.811306°S 144.959306°E / -37.811306; 144.959306
Completed in 2021.
70 183–189 A'Beckett Street 183–189 A'Beckett Street Melbourne in December 2022.png 154 m
(505 ft)
48 2021 Residential City Centre
37°48′47″S 144°57′29″E / 37.81306°S 144.95806°E / -37.81306; 144.95806
Completed in 2021.
71 = Shadow Play
(105 Clarendon Street)
Shadow Play skyscraper in July 2019.png 153 m
(502 ft)
52 2018 Residential Southbank
37°49′37.5″S 144°57′29.2″E / 37.827083°S 144.958111°E / -37.827083; 144.958111
Completed in 2018.
71 = Southbank Central
(1–11 Balston Street)
Southbank Central in November 2019.png 153 m
(502 ft)
48 2017 Residential Southbank
37°49′30.6″S 144°57′41.1″E / 37.825167°S 144.961417°E / -37.825167; 144.961417
Completed in 2017.
71 = Optus Centre
(367 Collins Street)
Optus Centre 2a.jpg 153 m
(502 ft)
34 1975 Office City Centre
37°49′1.8″S 144°57′44.7″E / 37.817167°S 144.962417°E / -37.817167; 144.962417
Completed in 1975, it became the city's tallest building for a short time.
74 = Crown Towers
(8 Whiteman Street)
Crown Towers, Melbourne Australia in 2010.jpg 152.5 m
(500 ft)
43 1997 Hotel Southbank
37°49′20.4″S 144°57′37.3″E / 37.822333°S 144.960361°E / -37.822333; 144.960361
Completed in 1997, it was the tallest all-hotel building in Australia for many years.
74 = 140 William Street 140 William St - Photo 1.jpg 152.5 m
(500 ft)
41 1972 Office City Centre
37°48′57″S 144°57′31.8″E / 37.81583°S 144.958833°E / -37.81583; 144.958833
Completed in 1972, it became the city's tallest building.
76 555 Collins Street 152 m
(499 ft)
35 2023 Office City Centre
37°49′7.29″S 144°57′22.6″E / 37.8186917°S 144.956278°E / -37.8186917; 144.956278
Completed in 2023.
77 Urban Workshop Lonsdale
(50 Lonsdale Street)
Urban Workshop Lonsdale, June 2015.jpg 150 m
(492 ft)
34 2005 Office City Centre
37°48′33.4″S 144°58′14.4″E / 37.809278°S 144.970667°E / -37.809278; 144.970667
Completed in 2005.


Tallest Buildings by Area

This table shows the tallest building in each main area of Melbourne.

Rank Name Height Floors Precinct
of Melbourne
Completion
List
1 1 Australia 108 316.7 m (1,039 ft) 100 Southbank 2020
2 3 Aurora Melbourne Central 270.5 m (887 ft) 85 City Centre 2019
3 13 Swanston Central 236.7 m (777 ft) 71 Carlton 2019
4 40 Victoria Police Centre Tower 2 180 m (591 ft) 40 Docklands 2020
5 42 Capitol Grand 178 m (584 ft) 52 South Yarra 2019
6 60 (=) Royal Domain Tower 162 m (531 ft) 43 St Kilda Road 2005
7 Fifty Albert 98.1 m (322 ft) 30 South Melbourne 2013

Tallest Buildings by What They're Used For

This table shows the tallest buildings in Melbourne based on their main use: office, hotel, residential (homes), or mixed-use (a mix of things).

Rank Name Height Floors Function Completion
List
1 1 Australia 108 316.7 m (1,039 ft) 100 Residential 2020
3 3 Aurora Melbourne Central 270.5 m (887 ft) 85 Mixed use 2019
2 5 120 Collins Street 266.6 m (875 ft) 52 Office 1991
4 74 (=) Crown Towers 152.5 m (500 ft) 43 Hotel 1997

Skyscrapers Over 200 Meters Tall

Melbourne has 29 skyscrapers that are at least 200 meters (about 656 feet) tall. This is more than any other city in Australia or Oceania! Most of these (23) are in the City Centre, five are in Southbank, and one is in Carlton.

Tallest buildings in Melbourne
Buildings above 200 metres in height in Melbourne. Skyscrapers in black are complete, while skyscrapers coloured orange are in the construction phase

Timeline of Melbourne's Tallest Buildings

This list shows buildings that were once the "tallest building in Melbourne."

Name Image Years as tallest Height Floors Notes
Kew Asylum Kew Asylum.jpg 1871–1876 30 m (98 ft) 5
Yorkshire Brewery Tower Yorkshire brewery collingwood.jpg 1876–1888 34 m (112 ft) 8
Fink's Building Fink's Building, c. 1890s.jpg 1888 43 m (141 ft) 10 Partially destroyed by fire in 1897.
Federal Coffee Palace A tram car passes the Federal Coffee Palace in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.jpg 1888-1890 50.292 m (165.00 ft) 9 Torn down in 1972.
The Australian Building APA Australia Building in Melbourne.jpg 1890–1932 53 m (174 ft) 12 Was the tallest building in Australia from 1890 to 1912. Torn down in 1980.
Manchester Unity Building Manchester Unity Building (1932) with Burke and Wills.jpg 1932–1958 64 m (210 ft) 13
Orica House Orica House.jpg 1958–1962 81 m (266 ft) 20 Was the tallest building in Australia from 1958 to 1961.
CRA Building 1962–1969 99 m (325 ft) 26 Torn down in 1988.
AMP Square AMP Tower Melb.jpg 1969–1971 113.4 m (372 ft) 28
Marland House Marland House 2007.jpg 1971–1972 121 m (397 ft) 32
140 William Street 140 william st.jpg 1972–1975 152.5 m (500 ft) 41
Optus Centre Optus Centre 2a.jpg 1975–1977 153 m (502 ft) 34
Nauru House Nauru House AON.jpg 1977–1978 182 m (597 ft) 52
ANZ Tower at Collins Place 35 and 55 from Collins Street.JPG 1978–1986 188 m (617 ft) 56 Was tied for tallest with Sofitel Hotel at Collins Place from 1980 to 1986.
Sofitel Hotel at Collins Place 35CollinStreet1.JPG 1980–1986 188 m (617 ft) 50 Was tied for tallest with ANZ Tower at Collins Place.
Rialto Towers Rialto Towers in May 2017, edit.png 1986–1991 251.1 m (824 ft) 63 Was the tallest building in Australia (1986–1991) and the tallest to its roof (1986–2006).
101 Collins Street 101 Collins Street December 2009.jpg 1991 260 m (850 ft) 50 Was the tallest building in Australia for a short time in 1991.
120 Collins Street 120 Collins Street west facade upper detail.jpg 1991–2006 266.6 m (875 ft) 52 Was the tallest building in Australia from 1991 to 2005.
Eureka Tower Eureka Tower, in May 2017.jpg 2006–2020 297.3 m (975 ft) 91 Was the tallest building in Australia to its roof from 2006 to 2020.
Australia 108 Australia 108 Southbank Melbourne.jpg 2020–present 316.7 m (1,039 ft) 100 Is the tallest building in Australia to its roof since 2020.

Future Skyscrapers

This section lists skyscrapers that are currently topped out, being built, approved, or proposed for Melbourne.

308 Exhibition Street ...By The Gardens under construction in March 2022
Sapphire by the Gardens (left) and Shangri-La by the Gardens (right), under construction in March 2022. Sapphire was completed in 2022, whilst Shangri-La is expected to be completed in 2023.
Key:
Topped out Under construction On hold Approved Proposed
Name Height Floors Purpose Precinct
of Melbourne
Estimated
completion
Status
m ft
Southbank by Beulah Tower 1 366 1,201 102 Residential Southbank TBA Approved
25–35 Power Street 280.3 920 71 Mixed use Southbank TBA Approved
Southbank by Beulah Tower 2 273 896 72 Mixed use Southbank TBA Approved
Queens Place South Tower 251 823 79 Residential City Centre TBA Approved
640 Bourke Street 234.6 770 68 Mixed use City Centre TBA Approved
51–65 Clarke Street 233 764 70 Residential Southbank TBA Approved
295 City Road 228 748 70 Residential Southbank TBA Approved
303 La Trobe Street 213 699 66 Residential City Centre TBA Approved
Aspire Melbourne 210.6 691 65 Residential City Centre 2023 Topped out
435 Bourke Street 210.3 690 49 Office City Centre 2025 Under construction
UNO Melbourne 210 690 65 Residential City Centre 2023 Topped out
The Queensbridge 209 686 66 Residential Southbank 2025 Under construction
280 Queen Street 207 679 68 Residential City Centre TBA Proposed
334–344 City Road 190 620 58 Residential Southbank TBA Approved
268–274 City Road 187 614 55 Residential Southbank TBA Approved
600 Collins 182 597 47 Office City Centre 2026 Under construction
60–82 Johnson Street Tower 1A 181 594 53 Residential South Melbourne TBA Approved
60–82 Johnson Street Tower 2B 181 594 53 Residential South Melbourne TBA Approved
Melbourne Square Tower 5 180 590 54 Hotel Southbank TBA Approved
Sol Invictus Tower 178 584 51 Residential Southbank TBA Proposed
96–102 Franklin Street 177 581 57 Residential City Centre TBA Proposed
212–222 La Trobe Street North Tower 176 577 56 Residential City Centre TBA Approved
Melbourne Square Tower 3 175 574 56 Residential Southbank TBA Approved
Melbourne Square Tower 4 175 574 56 Residential Southbank TBA Approved
52–60 Collins Street 163.1 535 40 Office City Centre TBA Approved
Melbourne Quarter West Tower 160 520 37 Office Docklands 2024 Under construction
56-62 Clarendon Street 159.7 524 49 Residential Southbank TBA Approved
32 Flinders Street 158.5 520 41 Office City Centre 2025 Under construction
57 Haig Street 155.7 511 47 Residential Southbank TBA Approved
277-281 Ingles Street 155 509 51 Residential Port Melbourne TBA Approved
56-62 Clarendon Street 155 509 40 Office City Centre TBA Approved
87–105 Queensbridge Tower 1 152.9 502 47 Mixed use Southbank TBA Proposed
87–105 Queensbridge Tower 2 152.9 502 47 Mixed use Southbank TBA Proposed
555 Collins Street 152 499 35 Office City Centre 2023 Topped out
85–93 Lorimer Street Tower 1 150 490 49 Residential Docklands TBA Approved

Images for kids

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Anexo:Edificios más altos de Melbourne para niños

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List of tallest buildings in Melbourne Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.