Telstra Tower — one of Canberra's most prominent landmarks — is set for a makeover, with the telecommunications giant confirming it wants to restore the site as a "premier destination" that celebrates Ngunnawal culture.
In recent months, Telstra has used consulting company Deloitte to help liaise with Indigenous elders, tourism providers and government agencies about the future of the 195-metre-high tower on Black Mountain, which has been closed to the public since July 2021.
Before it was shut, tourism operators had labelled the state of the ageing monument an "embarrassment".
The revolving restaurant inside the tower was closed in 2013, and the interior has not been renovated for some time, although the tower remains an important telecommunications facility and many tourists still drive to its base on top of Black Mountain in central Canberra.
"Telstra — through its Telstra InfraCo business — wants to refresh this site and restore it," the company's regional general manager for New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory, Chris Taylor, said.
"Our vision is for Telstra Tower to be an iconic, world-class venue that celebrates and embraces both the Ngunnawal culture and the role the tower has played in the history of telecommunications in Australia."
In response to questions from the ABC, Telstra confirmed a range of different ideas for the tower were being considered.
These included upgraded viewing platforms that would be "digitally enhanced" to celebrate First Nations history in the capital region.
The tower could also be home to new, "culturally inspired" dining facilities, possibly in the vacant restaurant, as well as education programs on the Ngunnawal people's ties to the land and a separate section detailing the history of the telecommunications industry.
Other attractions could include "community engagement activities", such as market gardens, bush tucker programs, exhibitions, truth-telling opportunities and cultural demonstrations by the Ngunnawal people.
"We have recently concluded the consultation phase," Mr Taylor said.
"We're currently considering next steps on bringing this vision to life."
It is unclear how long the "next steps" will take, although industry groups want action as soon as possible, ideally this year.
Caroline Hughes from the United Ngunnawal Elders Council said she was excited about the ideas that had been put forward.
"We think it could be a great opportunity to showcase Ngunnawal culture and share it with the Canberra community," she said.
The ABC has been told a target date for reopening the tower is 2025, although Telstra declined to confirm this.
"With such a range of changes planned — many requiring the involvement of a range of external organisations — Telstra doesn't have any specific timeframe for a public reopening date as yet," Mr Taylor said.
"However, we will keep the community informed when we know more."
The refurbishment is set to cost millions of dollars.
In 2019, the ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr asked locals for their views about the site and what facilities they would like to see.
Responses included a zip-line, pop-up markets and live music.
The pandemic delayed progress but, in meetings with Telstra, Mr Barr has repeatedly advocated for some sort of refurbishment of the site to take place.
Tourism groups want tower reopened as quickly as possible
Telstra Tower can be viewed from many parts of Canberra and from surrounding areas of New South Wales.
It also frequently features in promotional images of the ACT, as well as art and cartoons from the capital region.
Since Telstra Tower was shut to the public, tourism operators have been calling for a large sign near the tower informing people that it is temporarily closed.
They say visitors to the ACT are regularly disappointed they cannot go up the tower and photograph the city.
"We are encouraged Telstra is looking at doing something and we'd urge them to do this as quickly as possible," Canberra Region Tourism Leaders Forum's David Marshall said.
"Ideally, we want this opened in 2024. We think there is a sense of urgency."
