St John's Beacon (Radio City Tower)

Observation tower, constructed in 1965-1969, designed by James A Roberts, converted to a radio broadcasting studio in 1999.

MATERIALS: board-marked in-situ slip-form concrete.

PLAN: the tower, which is circular in plan, stands at the junction of the south-east elevation of St John’s shopping precinct and the Playhouse Theatre.

EXTERIOR: not inspected, information from other sources. The tower has its own separate foundations and stands on a circular podium attached to the St John’s Precinct. It has a tapering cylindrical shaft with a circular crow's nest-like lantern projection towards the top, originally containing the revolving restaurant and viewing platform (now a radio station). The upwards-sloping concrete soffit of the lantern is segmented with recessed ribs radiating from the centre. The lantern, which also tilts outwards to enable views downwards, is glazed and has a band that wraps around with affixed lettering that reads 'RADIO CITY 96.7'. Originally the lantern had a rooftop viewing deck, but this level is now enclosed to form extra accommodation for the radio station, and has continuous glazing around the perimeter. Above the lantern the shaft terminates in a flat top, which is now obscured by a framework supporting telecommunications equipment.

INTERIOR: not inspected, information from other sources. The tower contains a stairwell and two lift shafts. The high-level lantern contains radio studios with a perimeter landing area/corridor and viewing gallery, and offices on the upper floor (formerly the open viewing deck).