Telstra Tower – still a work in progress. Photo: James Coleman.
Ngunnawal leaders claim they’re being left in the dark by Telstra about plans to reopen the Black Mountain tower, years after discussions began to turn it into a “cultural tourism venue” for the city’s First Peoples.
Telstra Tower has been somewhat of an embarrassment for Canberra since closing to visitors in 2020, with the grounds now derelict and weed-ridden. What was once the main entryway is now barricaded behind barbed wire.
There have been conversations behind the scenes since 2022 to change this, but it seems Ngunnawal leaders Uncle Richie Allan and Aunty Violet Sheridan are increasingly being left out of them.
“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.”
Uncle Richie Allan, David Pocock, Aunty Violet Sheridan, and Thomas Emerson. Photo: James Coleman.
The story so far
Telstra first engaged Deloitte Indigenous Services in mid-2022 to develop plans for the site in liaison with Uncle Richie and Aunty Violet.
The result reimagined the tower as a ‘Ngunnawal cultural tourism venue’, complete with digitally enhanced viewing platforms to celebrate First Nations history, culturally inspired dining facilities, and education programs on the Ngunnawal people’s ties to the land.
There was even a feasibility study, concept video and report, and a commitment by Telstra to spend tens of millions of dollars to make it happen. It also had the backing of 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.”
In June 2024, Telstra and the ACT Government signed a letter of intent to work together to reopen the tower.
A year later, in June 2025, a media release then announced $233,000 in government funding for the project, followed shortly afterwards by talk of various “adventure experiences” for the tower. These included “elevated external walks, tethered base jumping, zip lines, climbing courses and other similar activities”.
“Opening the tower as a world-class tourist attraction will include consideration of a range of products and experiences,” an ACT Government spokesperson told Region last year.
But it seemed mention of the Ngunnawal components had dropped off.
In September, both Independent MLA Thomas Emerson and ACT senator David Pocock questioned Barr and Telstra about this, demanding that they “follow through on their prior commitments to Ngunnawal elders”.
An official then confirmed the ACT Government had seen 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.
Ngunnawal elders want the original plan back
“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,” Mr Emerson said during a media event at Telstra Tower this week.
“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.”
Mr 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.
Both Uncle Richie and Auntie Sheridan have since met with the ACT Government and told it to them “straight”.
“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’.”
ACT Government says conversations with Ngunnawal elders will continue
In response, the ACT Government says it is still working 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 told Region.
“This was a positive discussion, and they agreed to continue working collaboratively on the project.”
The Chief Minister’s directorate is also working with local Indigenous consultancy Lyrebird Dreaming on an “engagement approach” with Ngunnawal people.
“Over the next 12 months, the government will work with Telstra to finalise commercial arrangements and refurbishment planning for the first stage of the tower reopening project with the available budget.
“In parallel, we’ll continue engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities on co-designing cultural elements.”
But the government says ultimate responsibility for the final form Telstra Tower takes is 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.
In response, Telstra has acknowledged the “cultural significance of the site” and says “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 told Region.
“We’ve appreciated the positive conversations to date and are committed to continuing this engagement.”
Construction is set to start in late 2027, but the government says this remains subject to “ongoing commercial negotiations, the successful procurement of a construction partner and the construction works proceeding smoothly”.
