The Skyneedle, Brisbane facts for kids

The Skyneedle during March 2006 and the Merivale St Bridge

The Skyneedle is a famous landmark in Brisbane, Australia. It was built especially for a big event called World Expo 88. This tall tower has been a part of Brisbane's skyline for many years.

The Skyneedle: A Bright Star in Brisbane

What is the Skyneedle?

The Skyneedle is an 88-meter (about 289 feet) tall tower. It was first built to be a special attraction for World Expo 88. This was a huge international exhibition held in Brisbane in 1988. The tower was meant to be a symbol of the event.

Who Saved the Skyneedle?

After Expo '88 finished, there were plans to move the Skyneedle to Tokyo Disneyland. But a famous hairdresser named Stefan Ackerie stepped in. He bought the Skyneedle and kept it in Brisbane. It was then moved to Stefan's company headquarters in South Brisbane. After buying it, Stefan added his company's colorful rainbow rings logo to the top.

The Skyneedle's Amazing Light

The Skyneedle has a very powerful light at its top. This light can shine a beam that can be seen up to 60 kilometers (about 37 miles) away! However, you don't see this light very often. It is usually only turned on for special events. This is because of safety rules for airplanes flying near Brisbane Airport.

Fires and New Technology

The Skyneedle has had a few exciting moments. On November 4, 2006, the Skyneedle caught fire. This happened because of an electrical problem. It was actually the second time this had happened, with a similar fire occurring in 1988. Investigations found that bird droppings likely caused the fault. Stefan Ackerie promised to fix it and make it shine again.

In 2009, the top 22-meter section of the Skyneedle was removed. Stefan announced that this part was being rebuilt with new laser technology. The updated Skyneedle, with its new lights, was shown off on April 23, 2009. It was officially turned on on May 1 by Stefan and a TV weatherman. The new light show uses special RGB LED lights from Italy. It also has powerful spotlights made in Germany. However, by 2019, the Skyneedle's light system had stopped working again.

A New Home for the Skyneedle

In April 2015, Stefan Ackerie announced that he was selling the Skyneedle. He also sold the land around it to a company called Pradella Group. This company planned to build a 12-story apartment complex around the tower. The Brisbane City Council approved this plan in August 2015. The city's Lord Mayor, Graham Quirk, said the Skyneedle would be a part of the new buildings. A café was also planned to open right underneath it.

Images for kids

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  The Skyneedle at
  World Expo 88

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  The Skyneedle at
  World Expo 88

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  The Skyneedle (2006)

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  The Skyneedle (2014)
  (taken from Edmondstone Street)

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  The Skyneedle (2018)
  (During the construction of Skyneedle Apartments)