Ngunnawal leaders say they are being excluded from ongoing plans to reopen the Telstra Tower in Canberra, years after initial discussions envisioned the site as a cultural tourism venue celebrating the region’s First Peoples.
Tower’s Reopening Plans Evolve
The Telstra Tower has remained closed to visitors since 2020, falling into disrepair. While conversations about its future began in 2022, Ngunnawal leaders Uncle Richie Allan and Aunty Violet Sheridan express increasing concern about being left out of recent developments.
“I’ve seen this closed for a long time like that, and my vision was that there’s something missing for the Traditional Owners, the Ngunnawal people here in Canberra,” Aunty Sheridan said.
“My vision started with a conversation to say, ‘Hey, let’s get this back open, but let’s make it the true identity of Canberra, the First Peoples of Canberra.’”
Telstra Tower – still a work in progress. Photo: James Coleman.
Initial Vision for a Cultural Center
In mid-2022, Telstra engaged Deloitte Indigenous Services to develop plans for the site in collaboration with Uncle Richie and Aunty Violet. The resulting proposal reimagined the tower as a “Ngunnawal cultural tourism venue,” featuring digitally enhanced viewing platforms, culturally inspired dining, and educational programs focused on the Ngunnawal people’s connection to the land.
A feasibility study, concept video, and report were completed, with Telstra committing tens of millions of dollars to the project. The plan also received support from ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr.
“There is nothing in Canberra like the earlier vision put out by Telstra,” Uncle Richie said.
“As soon as you walked through that door, it transcended you back into Ngunnawal culture, back into Ngunnawal country, and you see things through our eyes, you’ll hear things through our ears. You’ll be transcended back in time to see Canberra the way it used to be.
“This is Canberra, the meeting place of Australia. But it belongs to every Canberran, and we want to share that as Ngunnawal people.”
Uncle Richie Allan, David Pocock, Aunty Violet Sheridan, and Thomas Emerson. Photo: James Coleman.
Shift in Focus and Concerns Raised
In June 2024, Telstra and the ACT Government signed a letter of intent to reopen the tower. A year later, in June 2025, a media release announced $233,000 in government funding, followed by discussions of “adventure experiences” such as elevated walks, base jumping, zip lines, and climbing courses.
An ACT Government spokesperson stated last year that reopening the tower as a “world-class tourist attraction” would include consideration of various products and experiences.
Concerns were raised that the Ngunnawal components of the plan were being diminished. In September, Independent MLA Thomas Emerson and ACT Senator David Pocock questioned Barr and Telstra, urging them to “follow through on their prior commitments to Ngunnawal elders.”
An official confirmed that the ACT Government had reviewed the final Deloitte feasibility report, but that it was “a matter between [Telstra] and the community.”
An artist’s impression of what a reopened Telstra Tower could look like. Image: Architectus.
Elders Seek Return to Original Plan
“It’s incredibly disappointing that Telstra and the ACT Government are baulking at earlier commitments made to the Ngunnawal community regarding the future of Telstra Tower,” Emerson said at a recent media event.
“Extensive work went into developing a Ngunnawal-led vision for transforming Telstra Tower into a world-class cultural icon. Telstra invested in plans and committed significant capital to bring that vision to life. Turfing all that work would be both wasteful and deeply disrespectful to the Traditional Owners who’ve been driving this process.”
Pocock added, “It’s been years since Telstra Tower has been closed to the public, and the site has sat vacant.
“Let’s not allow this to become yet another missed opportunity to celebrate Ngunnawal culture and enliven tourism in the nation’s capital.”
Uncle Richie and Auntie Sheridan, Mr Pocock and Mr Emerson will take their complaint to Telstra and the ACT Government. Photo: James Coleman.
Uncle Richie and Aunty Sheridan have since met with the ACT Government to express their concerns directly.
“Telstra did make a promise to the Ngunnawal people that it will be a Ngunnawal cultural centre first and foremost,” Uncle Richie said.
“In conversations that we had about a month or a half ago now, in early December, I put it straight to them like that, ‘You promised.’ And the integrity of Telstra stands here today, and we’ll say it: ‘you stand by your word’.”
Government and Telstra Respond
The ACT Government says it is continuing to work with Traditional Owners to “ensure the staged Telstra Tower reopening delivers meaningful cultural opportunities.”
“Earlier this week, the Chief Minister met with Aunty Violet … to discuss the future of Telstra Tower,” a spokesperson said.
“This was a positive discussion, and they agreed to continue working collaboratively on the project.”
The government is also working with Indigenous consultancy Lyrebird Dreaming on an engagement plan with Ngunnawal people. Over the next 12 months, the government will work with Telstra to finalize commercial arrangements and refurbishment planning for the first stage of the tower reopening project.
However, the government stated that ultimate responsibility for the final design of Telstra Tower rests with Telstra.
“While Telstra has previously consulted Traditional Custodians on potential future uses of the site, including a cultural centre, those outcomes remain a matter for Telstra as the facility owner,” the spokesperson said.
The ACT Government says the final decision on the tower’s design rests with Telstra. Image: Architectus.
Telstra acknowledged the “cultural significance of the site” and stated, “it’s critically important to us that the Ngunnawal Traditional Custodians are a part of the planning process.”
“The ACT Government is leading this engagement and is in the process of developing its engagement plan with the support of its specialist advisors,” a Telstra spokesperson said.
“We’ve appreciated the positive conversations to date and are committed to continuing this engagement.”
Construction is currently scheduled to begin in late 2027, contingent on ongoing commercial negotiations, securing a construction partner, and smooth progress of construction works.
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