Shot Tower, Taroona facts for kids

Quick facts for kids The Shot Tower
The Shot Tower at Taroona
General information
Type	Shot tower
Location	Taroona, Tasmania.
Country	Australia
Construction started	1870
Inaugurated	8 September 1870
Owner	Tasmanian government
Height	192.6 feet (58.7 m)
Dimensions
Diameter	10-3.9 metres
Technical details
Material	Sandstone
Design and construction
Architect	Joseph Moir
Engineer	Joseph Moir

The Shot Tower in Taroona, Tasmania, is a very old and interesting building. It's located between Hobart and Kingston. A clever person named Joseph Moir designed and built it way back in 1870. What's special about it? It was used to make tiny lead balls called "shot" for things like hunting.

This tower was built very quickly, in just eight months! It is one of only three shot towers left in Australia. Some people say it's the tallest shot tower in the world, but others disagree. However, it is definitely the tallest stone shot tower in the Southern Hemisphere. It was also the first shot tower built in the Southern Hemisphere.

For four years, the Shot Tower was the tallest building in all of Australia. It remained the tallest building in Tasmania for 100 years. Then, the Mount Wellington broadcast tower became taller. The Shot Tower is now a protected historic building. It is listed on the Tasmanian Heritage Register.

The Shot Tower is connected to a historic house called Queensborough Glen. This house was where Joseph Moir lived for many years. Today, the Shot Tower is a fun place for tourists to visit. You can climb to the very top and enjoy the views. There is also a cafe attached to the tower.

The Shot Tower: A Tall History

The Shot Tower stands at a height of 192.6 feet (58.7 m). That's about as tall as a 19-story building! At its base, it measures about 10 metres across. Inside, there are many steps to climb to reach the top. Depending on how you count, there are either 258 or 318 steps.