Towering over Southbank in Melbourne, the Eureka Tower stands some 300 metres above the city. It is one of Australia’s tallest buildings, and it takes the position as the third tallest building in the whole country.
1. It has 88 floors
The Eureka Tower consists of 88 levels with each section of the tower providing something different. Below the 88th floor, there are hotel suites, apartments, a swimming pool, retail spaces, health and fitness centres and public viewing areas at the top.
Up on Level 88, there’s the Melbourne Skydeck. This is where the viewing platform is, and it’s open to the public as a tourist attraction. Visit here for the best views of the city! The Tower is surrounded by iconic city landmarks like the MCG, Yarra River, the Melbourne Wheel, and Flinders Street Station.
2. The elevator to the 88th floor takes 38 seconds
The ride to the top of the tower only takes 38 seconds. To go up 88 floors in this short time is very fast – so expect some quick-changing pressure!
3. The tower is called ‘Eureka’ after the Eureka Stockade
In America, when miners discovered gold they’d shout ‘Eureka!’ It originates from the Greek word ‘heurēka’ which translates to ‘I have found it.’
This was something that was transferred into the Australian Gold Rush era, and Melbourne’s significance in the Gold Rush era meant that the tower would be named after it.
4. There are over 12,764 windows in the tower
The whole building of the Eureka Tower took about 4 years, and it’s no wonder – there are so many windows in the tower!
The building was designed to have plenty of natural light allowed through.
5. There have been over 1000 marriage proposals at the Melbourne Skydeck.
There have been over 6 million visitors since the Melbourne Sydeck opened…and a proportion of these visits have been marriage proposals! These proposals all take place on The Edge. People can even book packages to plan their proposal at the edge of the tower.
Managing Director at Sightseeing Tours Australia
Cameron Ward turned his travel passion into a thriving Australian tourism business. Before he co-founded his own business, Sightseeing Tours Australia, he was enjoying being a Melbourne tour guide. Even now, Cameron delights in helping visitors from all around the world get the most out of their incredible Australian trip. You’ll see Cameron leading tours or writing about his favourite Australian places where he shares his local insights.