The Shot Tower

The Shot Tower is set in beautiful Taroona/Hobart on a 158 yr old property. Tower tours, Museum, Gift shop, The Tower Tearooms & Garden court yard dining.

The Shot Tower is open for tours and teas!

The Shot Tower Historic Site is now open from 10 to 5pm daily with The Tower Tearoom and Courtyard Cafe open 10am to 4pm every day except Wednesdays for the school holidays. 

Visit our very special Taroona’s own historic site, wear the kids out with a climb to the top, and recover with one of Julia’s renowned Devonshire teas. 

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!

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 It was Tasmania’s tallest structure for over 100 years, until superceded by the 67 m broadcast tower on the pinnacle of Mt Wellington.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.

Climb the world’s tallest circular sandstone tower for beautiful 360° views. Enter the old Shot Tower Factory to visit the History Museum,  Gift shop and Tower entrance or go down stairs to the old world Tearoom and Gallery for a Devonshire Tea on fine china. You may sit inside in The Tower Tearoom or outside in The Courtyard Garden dining area. Wander around the heritage ‘mini castle like’ Tower Residence and various beautiful gardens. 

The Tower Tearoom is closed on Wednesdays.