What is the tallest building in Australia?
The Q1 tower on the Gold Coast is usually listed as Australia's tallest building, at about 322 metres including its spire. Melbourne's Australia 108 has the highest roof, at about 317 metres.
Tall building rankings depend on what is measured. The Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat counts spires that are part of the design, which places Q1 first. Australia 108 is taller to its roof and highest occupied floor.
Q1, completed in 2005, is a residential tower in Surfers Paradise with an observation deck called SkyPoint. Its slender spire makes up a large part of its height.
Melbourne's towers
Australia 108, completed in 2020 in Southbank, is a residential tower with a distinctive golden starburst feature near the top. Nearby Eureka Tower, completed in 2006, held the record for the highest residential floor for many years.
Sydney's tallest buildings, such as Crown Sydney at Barangaroo, are shorter, partly because of height limits linked to flight paths and the city's planning rules.
New supertall towers have been proposed in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, so the ranking may change in coming years.
Did You Know?
Sydney Tower, at 309 metres, is taller than most buildings but is classified as a tower rather than a building.