The Shot Tower Historic Site

Joseph Moir's Shot Tower, Channel Highway, Taroona

The Shot Tower is Taroona's most distinctive and important landmark, and one of Tasmania's most historical industrial buildings. It has National Trust classification A and is open to the public. 

The visitor enters at level 4 above the ground and must climb 318 wooden steps to reach the open gallery at the top which gives 360 degree views across Storm Bay, South Arm  and surrounding countryside. 

The climb is not as difficult as it may seem, as the engineer, Joseph Moir, was mindful of the fact that his workers would have to ascend and descend many times a day. The current proprietors say that the oldest person they know to have climbed to the top was 97!

	Tower Tearoom at the Shot Tower historic site Tearoom, courtyard garden dining, museum and gift shop 10am - 4pm Shot Tower, museum and shop open 7 days Please check for tearoom opening hours. Please call for bookings if required outside of these hours on 0427 770 422

The Shot Tower is situated beside Channel Highway in Taroona and is about 11 km drive from Hobart. It was completed in 1870 and at 58 metres tall, was Australia's tallest building for four years. It was Tasmania's tallest structure for over 100 years, until superceded by the 67 m broadcast tower on the pinnacle of Mt Wellington. No other Tasmanian buildings as yet exceed the Shot Tower's height, although NAB house in Collins St Hobart equals it at 58 metres tall.

Parks and Wildlife Service pages give a full description of the building and operation of the Shot Tower, including how shot was manufactured, and of Joseph Moir's life.

Parks and Wildlife Service webpages about the Shot Tower

Shot Tower chapter in The Taroona Book

Find out more about Taroona