After 30 years of ribald jokes and embarrassing photos the phallic Queens Wharf Tower has been earmarked for demolition.
Erected in Newcastle in 1988 to commemorate a visit by the Queen during Australia’s bicentennial celebrations, the tower has long been considered an eyesore.
The council has now decided the local icon must come down, citing high maintenance costs, safety hazards, and poor reviews from tourists.
After 30 years of ribald jokes and embarrassing photos the phallic Queens Wharf Tower (pictured) has been earmarked for demolition
Erected in Newcastle in 1988 to commemorate a visit by the Queen during Australia’s bicentennial celebrations, the tower has long been considered an eyesore (pictured is Queens Wharf with the tower digitally removed)
‘Our beloved, yet unusual Queens Wharf Tower will be demolished in late 2018 early 2019,’ the council said, dividing opinion and outraging some local residents.
‘It is the subject of lewd jokes and negative reports, and is certainly not a positive reflection on our city.’
‘There really is no other way to describe the Queen’s Wharf Tower other than as an embarrassment to the city,’ Jeremy Bath of the council told The Newcastle Herald.
‘I look forward to not having to answer the inevitable question of “why” from guests and visitors when they first see the tower.
The council has now decided the local icon must come down, citing high maintenance costs, safety hazards, and poor reviews from tourists (pictured is a council photo showing Queens Wharf with no tower)
‘Unsurprisingly, there aren’t many cities around the world that have placed a 30-metre-high phallic symbol in their most prominent public space.’
The council estimates the tower will cost $1.6million to maintain over the next four years, and said those funds could be used on better projects.
There were also concerns the aging building is becoming dangerous and is no longer attracting people to the port city.
‘The tower is a safety hazard, and not accessible for everyone in the community and definitely not an appropriate reminder to the city of the Queen’s visit in 1988.’
Negative Tripadvisor reviews were one of the reasons given for the decision to demolish the tower.
‘Not a good place to be unfortunately. Dirty by day. Dangerous by night. Not sure why or what it is. Out of place. Stay away,’ wrote one local user.
‘This thing is an eyesore and a blight on the Newcastle skyline. Tear it down and do the city a favour. I wouldn’t recommend a visit,’ wrote another.
Tripadvisor is home to many scathing reviews (pictured above) of the tower, cited by the council in their decision
‘Of all things to put in a district for entertainment I can’t think of a worse or uglier construction.
‘Walking skyward around and around and around in a graffiti ridden, urine smelling cage until you reach the top makes you wonder what you were thinking when you get there.
‘This is no stairway to heaven – it’s actually more of a trip hazard to hell,’ wrote a visitor from New Zealand.
Newcastle City Council is now seeking feedback from residents on what the building should be replaced with.
On their website they provided two photographs with the tower digitally removed under the title ‘Potential ideas for this space’.
‘There really is no other way to describe the Queen’s Wharf Tower other than as an embarrassment to the city,’ Jeremy Bath of the council (pictured is a council photo of the wharf without the tower)
Not all locals are happy with the decision, with some saying they will miss the distinctive building.
Independent councillor Kath Elliott said the community should have been consulted about the tower’s future.
‘I think it’s outrageous that we can demolish something that is significant in our landscape, whether you like it or you don’t, and ignore people,’ she said.
Some social media users agreed, pleading with the council to spare the local icon.
‘Newcastle city council won’t be happy until all of our icons are gone and all of our greenspaces are tarred and all of our community spaces filled with high rise apartment blocks,’ wrote one.
The People’s Daily newspaper building in Beijing, China, became a laughing stock during construction (pictured), but looked less embarrassing once complete
‘Must have been a hard decision for the council. I bet there will be some stiff competition to demolish it. Should just leave it erect,’ said another.
Queens Wharf Tower is not the only building around the world to attract attention for its phallic appearance.
The People’s Daily newspaper building in Beijing, China, became a laughing stock during construction, but looked less embarrassing once complete.
The Ypsilanti Water Tower in Michigan was once named ‘Most Phallic Building in the World’ by Cabinet Magazine.
Torre Agbar, in Barcelona, Spain, is another building which came in for criticism, with some comparing it to a giant illuminated sex toy.
Torre Agbar (pictured), in Barcelona, Spain, is another building which came in for criticism, with some comparing it to a giant illuminated sex toy