The Mighty Rialto Towers

The mighty Rialto Towers are soon going to lose their crown as the tallest ‘building to roof’ in Melbourne, as Eureka climbs ever higher and higher.
Let us reflect…..

Rialto Towers (1986) Gerard de Preu & Partners
63 storeys 253 metres tall
Continued Mies Van Der Rohe’s 1920s visions of skyscrapers as soaring glass crystals. The Rialto is the tallest office building in the Southern Hemisphere and also one of the tallest reinforced concrete towers in the world today.
I have always found that the Rialto looks its best from a distance and in the late afternoon due to one of its most striking features, its changing colours as the setting sun reflects off its glass skin.
My only dislike, is its uninspiring podium even after it was redesigned several years ago. However all is forgiven for I’ll always have fond memories of using its observation deck as often as I could and never losing the awe and wonder from the views available up there.

Rialto Towers trivia

Construction began on the Rialto in October 1982 and was completed October 1986.

Prior to the Rialto Towers being built, the site was occupied by small office buildings.

The owners are St. Martins Pty Ltd and Grollo Australia Pty Ltd.

The builder was Grollo Australia Pty Ltd.

The Observation Deck was opened to the public on 20 July 1994.

There are 1254 stairs to the Observation Deck.

The Towers have 13,000 windows.

http://www.thecollectormm.com/private/SouthWest1984.jpg
The Rialto Towers under construction ~ 1984.

http://www.thecollectormm.com/gallery/postcards/1920s-1980s/slides/RialtoTowers2.jpg
Postcard of The Rialto Towers.

http://www.thecollectormm.com/gallery/postcards/1920s-1980s/slides/RialtoTowers1.jpg
The reflective glass. :D

http://www.thecollectormm.com/private/AerialWest2.jpg
Rialto in the foreground with King Street on the left running vertically.

http://www.thecollectormm.com/private/Aerial12.jpg
View east from the observation deck.

The Rialto Observation Deck website:

http://melbourne.citysearch.com.au/E/V/MELBO/0091/88/06/

Pimp dan's photos good.

http://www.melbournephotos.net/pics/2004-08-28%20Melbourne%20-%20Kings%20Domain,%20Fed%20Sq,%20Flinders%20Lane%20and%20Rialto%20obs%20deck/IMG_0405.jpg

http://www.melbournephotos.net/pics/2004-08-28%20Melbourne%20-%20Kings%20Domain,%20Fed%20Sq,%20Flinders%20Lane%20and%20Rialto%20obs%20deck/IMG_0390.jpg

quote[Rialto Towers (1986) Gerard de Preu & Partners
63 storeys 253 metres tall[ end quote}
collector- i reckon architects Perrot Lyon & Matheison would be pissed by leaving them out? lol
Rialto is 251m. the 253m is RL.
cheers

lovely retro and pics Collector, to mark the impending passing of an era.

Some more construction pics from Rialto's website - smallish but very cool:

http://www.rialto.com.au/images/constructione2.jpg_http://www.rialto.com.au/images/constructione1.jpg_http://www.rialto.com.au/images/constructionse1.jpg

http://www.rialto.com.au/images/constructionse2.jpg_http://www.rialto.com.au/images/constructionne.jpg_http://www.rialto.com.au/images/constructionse3.jpg

....

How good is this going to look with Rialto & Eureka glowing gold :-)

http://www.labyrinth.net.au/~tdp/images/melbourne.jpg

Jaw dropper:
http://www.labyrinth.net.au/~tdp/images/rialto.jpg

http://www.austehc.unimelb.edu.au/tia/images/bxtai0331.jpg

http://statelibrary.vic.gov.au/jcollins/0/1/8/im/jc018194.jpg

yeah i think its time to get a new tallest! even though 120 collins surpassed Rialto 13 years ago!lol just kidding
MLC had title from 1977-86 or nearly a decade
Rialto-1986-2004ish- nearly 2 decades.
I reckon Eureka will be tallest to roof for a loooooong time too!

The next tallest to roof will be completed in melbourne by 2012 :-)

i hope so ^^

yeah a sad thing, but also an awsome thing for us! eureka!

cul is so negative. He always says that things will be the tallest for a long time.

He said that if emerald was built it would b the tallest forever :S

and have seen it before.

He said that about Vision too.... but well see.

i always thought that the rialto was the most over-rated tower, but i acknowledge that it was well ahead of its time and is now a timeless presence in our city, having made a great contribution to its skyline. i love how the edges of the facade capture the morning and evening sun and the slender form of the south tower from a distance with its blue lighting can be really captivating. of its style, it's right up there amongst the best of its day.

man is this a great building or what this building is crazy and has to be one of the best buildings in the world. It looks the best just after sunset with the glass changing colours from blue to gold but not everything could hold its title

Whats' that building beside the Polly Woodside? looks like Housing Ministry but then, it doesnt...

It looks about 12 stories tall..

Notice how iscolated and lonely the World Trade Centre looked..

http://www.thecollectormm.com/gallery/photography/City/slides/Rialto1.jpg
A recent photograph I took of The Rialto Towers from South Melbourne. :)

Nice pics. In that closeup, I've noticed there's a slight irregularity in the glass facade. Was that functional, or simply an aesthetic choice, I wonder?

Nice pics. In that closeup, I've noticed there's a slight irregularity in the glass facade. Was that functional, or simply an aesthetic choice, I wonder?

Has to be aesthetic.
From certain angles it seriously looks like its crying. Eureka beat it good.

^^^

If you are referringt to the black bit on the top of the tower on the right hand side, thats not an iregularity , but rather an air vent

Cheers

Lozza :bowtie:

Two more recent photographs I've taken of The Rialto Towers.

http://www.thecollectormm.com/gallery/photography/City/slides/WestEnd1.jpg

http://www.thecollectormm.com/gallery/photography/City/slides/WestEnd2.jpg

Awesome pictures of a fantastic building. What's the balcony on the corner here is it part of the obsevation deck?

http://www.melbournephotos.net/pics/2004-08-28%20Melbourne%20-%20Kings%20Domain,%20Fed%20Sq,%20Flinders%20Lane%20and%20Rialto%20obs%20deck/IMG_0390.jpg

Yep that's part of the observation deck. Can get a bit breezy, to say the least, at time's. There is another outdoor viewing area on the opposite side also.

Thanks for that. I'll be visiting Melbourne in April and staying for 3 weeks so over the next few months I'll probably be popping on here and asking you all loads of questions, you'll probably be sick of the sight of me by April. :)

Visiting the Rialto's observation deck is definitely near the top of my list, what hours does it open and is evening definitely the best time to go up?

1000-2200 basic opening hours. Evening is best on a weekday, lots of city lights etc.

Anyone have photos of the base? You don't see many around. I believe it's a light coloured stone clad podium with tall glass windows.

Still my favourite scraper after all these years... I'll never get tired of staring at it when I visit Melbourne...

I hope Melbourne can sustain both observation decks once Eureka opens. They both offer different enough views but hopefully enough tourists will be divided between the two to see them both stay open.
Before the Rialto Towers Observation Deck opened I think Bank of Tokyo or something like that was near or at the top level. Anyway, I sneaked up to get a peak and ended up going into the stairwell when a security guy walked down the hall. Only problem was the door locked behind so I had to go 50 stories before I found a stairwell open. Gee, that was fun! Luckily I was going down.

How high up is the observation deck on Eureka gonna be?

i would say something like 285-290m high on the 88th floor i'm pretty sure

Before the Rialto Towers Observation Deck opened I think Bank of Tokyo or something like that was near or at the top level. Anyway, I sneaked up to get a peak and ended up going into the stairwell when a security guy walked down the hall. Only problem was the door locked behind so I had to go 50 stories before I found a stairwell open. Gee, that was fun! Luckily I was going down.
wow quite a walk there !!

Yeah, Thank God I was going down. It was sort of creepy in that stairwell. I wouldn't be surprised if some crazy employees that work at Rialto Towers climb it daily. For me once was enough!!! Though I must admit to doing the CN Tower climb. What a Canadian will do to avoid an admission charge! They take pity on us if we climb up, so we get to go down free.

love this one

http://www.melbournephotos.net/pics/2005-01-24%20Melbourne%20-%20DocklandsRialto%20Construction/IMG_5514.jpg

thanks to Melbourne Photos.net (http://www.melbournephotos.net) for the pic!

http://img177.exs.cx/img177/8549/p12148782zj.jpg
My avatar:
http://img177.exs.cx/img177/3396/p11700498dr.jpg

Absolutely brilliant! The lower strip of windows (on the second tower) isn't used for observation is it? Or is it a private space for office workers?

That last picture is awesome. The Melbourne skyline in a lot of pics seems very spread out but Rialto looks magnificent there in the middle of a lot of density.

Rialto at night.

http://img184.exs.cx/img184/7679/14pg.jpg

LOL^^, you just need a better camera Porsche911!
Otherwise a nice shot.

The Collector its from my phone not bad for a camera phone hey.

:ohno:

Whats your problem Tayser what ever i say or do you have a problem with it cut it out mate.

too much time on his hands! and too much time on here!

window cleaning the mighty Rialto!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v733/barsby/DSCN0170.jpg

mighty Rialto! Cool down a bit.

If you still don't think Kennett was good for Melbourne, just took a look at the very first picture in this thread!

If you still don't think Kennett was good for Melbourne, just took a look at the very first picture in this thread!


explain?

i think he means by looking at southbank, and northbank, very plain and boring.

The only thing that Kennett can claim in southbank, northbank is converting the partially built Melbourne Museum to an exhibition centre and approving an increase in height for the Casino hotel from 11 storeys to 30 and taking over what was to be a public square for the Mahogany room. Southbank was developed by the Cain Government by buying out the corwn leases and changing the street layout. The Cain Gov't also kickstarted northbank by building the Tennis Centre and commenced the shut down & relocation of rail infrastructure; nothing could be done at Federation Square until the air rights sold by a previous Liberal Govt were bought back; Kennett can claim the credit for that and the subsequent development of the site.

[QUOTE=Barsby]window cleaning the mighty Rialto!

They're still cleaning those windows Barsby!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v117/henrybal/IMG_5171.jpg

Can we see where they are in this pic?
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v117/henrybal/IMG_5170resized.jpg

Bottom middle :)

Bottom middle :)

Well done, he he

Had to put this pic from realestate.com.au somewhere:

http://www.realestate.com.au/objects/props/5777/102275777ml1110859316.jpg

^^my dream home is in that pic.

One from crown:
http://img194.exs.cx/img194/4780/p31201975lq.jpg

^ What a stunner! :guns1:

Definitely still my favourite... That reflective facade always captivates me...

I have a confession to make: I never really liked the Rialto.

:lol:

why does that not surprise me Blabbs? ;)

I like it more with the shorter tower on the left side:
http://img114.exs.cx/img114/6249/P3240319.jpg

Hack, that shot is brilliant! Must add to Rialto rating thread (http://skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=3110&page=7&pp=20)!

Stu

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v733/barsby/DSCN1315.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v733/barsby/DSCN1311edi.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v733/barsby/DSCN1301.jpg

Rialto does not look 250m any more, barely looks 180m.

Rialto does not look 250m any more, barely looks 180m.
Have you ever *seen* it?

Rialto does not look 250m any more, barely looks 180m.

What gives you that impression? R has always looked the full 250m to me, mind you 250m doesn't look that tall anymore since I went to HK 2 years ago, damnit! :bash:

I used to be in awe, now it's just 'blah'. At least I have E to look forward to now. :)

no i have not dan, it gives me that impression because eureka is massive and it doesnt really stand out that much anymore.

I thought I would repost this for future generations. These images are from the Rialto observation deck.
East into the city.
http://www.melbournephotos.net/pics/2005-04-15%20Melbourne%20-%20Rialto%20Obs%20deck%20and%20Construction/east.jpg

Here is the view to the west over docklands.
http://www.melbournephotos.net/pics/2005-04-15%20Melbourne%20-%20Rialto%20Obs%20deck%20and%20Construction/docklands.jpg

Incase you're interested I took some photos of the actual deck. Its recently been upgraded.
The eastern outside section.
http://www.melbournephotos.net/pics/2005-04-15%20Melbourne%20-%20Rialto%20Obs%20deck%20and%20Construction/IMG_6444.jpg

The binoculars are free!
http://www.melbournephotos.net/pics/2005-04-15%20Melbourne%20-%20Rialto%20Obs%20deck%20and%20Construction/IMG_6443.jpg

Channel 7 were up there filming.....something.
http://www.melbournephotos.net/pics/2005-04-15%20Melbourne%20-%20Rialto%20Obs%20deck%20and%20Construction/IMG_6442.jpg

There you go!

Future generations eh? I'll keep em for my grandkids.... lol

"You see, when pops was young Melbourne looked like this... and that short building over there is Eureka, though it was the tallest back in 2005..."

no i have not dan, it gives me that impression because eureka is massive and it doesnt really stand out that much anymore.
You're kidding me, right? Despite Eureka, Rialto continues to dominate the Melbourne skyline from most angles.

Future generations eh? I'll keep em for my grandkids.... lol

"You see, when pops was young Melbourne looked like this... and that short building over there is Eureka, though it was the tallest back in 2005..."
and the grandkid says- "how come Eureka still is the tallest"?.
lol
great panos dan.

http://www.labyrinth.net.au/~tdp/images/melbourne.jpg

yeah i think its time to get a new tallest! even though 120 collins surpassed Rialto 13 years ago!lol just kidding
MLC had title from 1977-86 or nearly a decade
Rialto-1986-2004ish- nearly 2 decades.
I reckon Eureka will be tallest to roof for a loooooong time too!I think you meant Nauru House @ 190m CULWULLA which was completed in 1977.

MLC @ 303 Collins, now with the IOOF signage @ its crown, completed in 1973 303 Collins St (http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=108449)

http://www.skyscraperphotos.com/cit/dme01/a/izme105.jpg_http://www.skyscraperphotos.com/cit/dme01/a/izme116.jpg_

http://www.skyscraperphotos.com/cit/dme01/a/izme119.jpg_http://www.skyscraperphotos.com/cit/dme01/a/izme102.jpg

.....

I think he means Australia wide Muse.

One of my mates is having his 21st up there.

is that right, well when u gonna introduce me so i can join u!!!! :)

but seriously can ya get any details about it, ie cost etc?

I nearly did it, it was something like $1600 + drinks. Kinda nasty.

I think he means Australia wide Muse.Eeep, silly me.

..

and the grandkid says- "how come Eureka still is the tallest"?.
lol
great panos dan.


No way Cul! I ain't that old! ;)

What was the tallest building in Melbourne 50 years ago? ICI House or something?

One of my friends had his birthday up there too a few years ago. It was cool, but not that cool. I mean you just get that small function room in the middle (the orion room or something), not the entire observation deck. There are better places to party!! :cheers:

Depends on your point of view Collin. I love being up there, it is so peaceful one minute, then the next thing the flames go off. It rocks!!!!!!!!!!

And you could have the entire obs deck if you wished, it's all about the money.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v733/barsby/DSCN1473.jpg

With The big E nearing completion I think you will find their prices (at observation deck) will become more flexible as they will have some competition.

http://thehoddlegrid.net/dump/guysphotos0340wi.jpg

i dont know how to make the picture smaller

Its not working for me, so i'll repost it for you, hopefully this works.

Guys, try to keep Perth for lifes' quote in context. he was meaning that eureka makes rialto look 180 m tall, and i have to agree as eureka completely dominates rialto now from most angles !

Thanks for all the pictures guys, rialto is still right up there in my opinion ! its just that eureka has completely stolen the show now in my opinion, just coz of its sheer height and class, so rialto doesn't get noticed as much any more as your eyes naturally get fixed on Eureka !!!

cheers

lozza

I resized the image and hosted on my host - sako check your Private Messages.

cheers

I like these 2 towers, nice structure about them. Do both towers touch or is there a gap between them?

Yes, they are connected.
Here is a typical floorplate of one of the connected levels.
http://www.rialto.com.au/images/floorplate6.gif

ahhh wow, so there's access to both towers inside on each level? or only a couple of levels?. I didn't expect that. From the outside it looks like there to seperate towers and that you wouldnt be able to walk between them at all.

http://img242.echo.cx/img242/663/guysphotos0538jk.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

Where's that taken from Sako 101 Collins?

from your fravorite building

Ohhh yeh it is to i just freaked out because it looked like a different angle. What floor was it taken from?

101 Collins? :lol:

top of '' i'm the tallest YES''

wah,wat a coincidence,i actually named my pic the mighty blue:P here's a shot taken 2 nites ago from southbank
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v191/Lovejesse/P4290038.jpg

Where's that taken from Sako 101 Collins?

Have you ever been into the cbd before?

Have you ever been into the cbd before?

Leave the boy alone he's confused. ;)

Hey sako is that from the crane or core? It looks at least 300m up!

OHH ! :omg:

U Gotta love that picture of The Rialto above !

Cheers

Lozza :grouphug:

You've got to love all pics of Rialto....I've took about 20 to 30 pics of them during my stay here and a further 40 odd from the observation deck. I fly back to the UK this tuesday so, hopefully jetlag free, I should start uploading them not long after. I don't know if there's a battle of the observation decks but if there is, Rialto shits on Centrepoint in Sydney. The view over Sydney is undeniably breathtaking but just the simple fact that you can't step outside spoils it, and your photo's, considerably.
I was a little unconvinced about certain Melbourne skyscrapers till i saw tham in the flesh but now I'm totally convinced....and I totally love Rialto, I've never seen a building change colour so many times during a single day before...fantastic. :)

^^^ Smiley, us Melbournians are looking forward to Eureka changing colours as many times during the day like Rialto does ! :rock:

cheers

lozza :grouphug:

E will change even more colours than R due to the gold top!

ahhh wow, so there's access to both towers inside on each level? or only a couple of levels?. I didn't expect that. From the outside it looks like there to seperate towers and that you wouldnt be able to walk between them at all.
Rialto is actually just 1 tower. It just happens to stop at 185m at the northern elevation. Naming Rialto Towers doent help. It was always called Rialto Tower until they opened the ob deck and refurb the podium back in 1994.

views
1990

http://naa12.naa.gov.au/scripts/ShowImage.asp?B=11725185&T=P&S=1

http://naa12.naa.gov.au/scripts/ShowImage.asp?B=11871264&T=P&S=1

feb1985
http://statelibrary.vic.gov.au/jcollins/0/1/8/im/jc018194.jpg

CUL, how bare does docklands look in that above picture ey !

amazing how far its come . If someone has more shots of docklands pre 1992, ,i would be interested to see them !

cheers

lozza :grouphug:

Nice pics!Just imagine how old is this tower and it still looks great!:D

I've just started to upload some of my pics from my visit....might as well start with Rialto.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Melbourne/Rialto2.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Melbourne/Rialto10.jpg

I don't know the name of this building but I managed to catch Rialto's reflection on it.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Melbourne/Rialto9.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Melbourne/Rialto8.jpg

I'll be posting a lot of my pictures on the UK forums as well so once a few comments have been made I'll post links to them on here so you can see what us lot think of Melbourne.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Melbourne/Rialto4.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Melbourne/Rialto3.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Melbourne/Rialto1.jpg

I don't know the name of this building but I managed to catch Rialto's reflection on it.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Melbourne/Rialto9.jpg



530 Collins St. The Australian Stock Exchange is a tenant.

Some really good pics too. :)

the biggest tenant is ANZ with ~30,000sqm, followed by Allens Arthur Robinson ~10,000sqm then ASX ~9,000sqm

Here are some of the views I captured from the observation deck. I'll just post them as links so as not to slow the page down too much.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Melbourne/Rialtoview3.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Melbourne/Rialtoview4.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Melbourne/Rialtoview5.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Melbourne/Rialtoview7.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Melbourne/Rialtoview8.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Melbourne/Rialtoview10.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Melbourne/Rialtoview14.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Melbourne/Rialtoview15.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Melbourne/Rialtoview19.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Melbourne/Rialtoview20.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Melbourne/Rialtoview22.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Melbourne/Rialtoview23.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Melbourne/Rialtoview24.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Melbourne/Rialtoview25.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Melbourne/Rialtoview27.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Melbourne/Rialtoview29.jpg

Absolutely sensational, Smileyface!! :eek2:

some of best photos ive seen of melbourne!!!
excellent

SmileyFace...on picture #2, of Melbourne Central...It looks like the top left glass coverings are shattered. Anyone else see them?

SmileyFace...on picture #2, of Melbourne Central...It looks like the top left glass coverings are shattered. Anyone else see them?

It's the reflection of the left antenna. looks like its broken, kinda.

i have a collection of about 150 photos from when I went up the Rialto, they look they same as smileyface, so i won't post them...great pictures Smiley!

Cheers for your comments guys, I did enjoy enjoy taking pics around your city. I ended up taking 250+ of which I'll probably post up around 100 odd. I'll start a Melbourne thread on the UK foreign section soon and also post some of my pics in the world forums.......and of course I'll be back next year taking more pics.
Here are some of the night shots from Rialto

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Melbourne/Rialtoview43.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Melbourne/Rialtoview37.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Melbourne/Rialtoview50.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Melbourne/Rialtoview47.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Melbourne/Rialtoview46.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Melbourne/Rialtoview44.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Melbourne/Rialtoview42.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Melbourne/Rialtoview41.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Melbourne/Rialtoview38.jpg

Smileyface = Honorary Melburnian! :bow:

top effort smiley and everyone els. Some fine picture's in this thread and well worth the look.

http://www.thecollectormm.com/gallery/photography/City/slides/RialtoView3.jpg
A shot I took recently from the observation deck.
Speaking of which, is now called The Melbourne Observation Deck ,
with a new upmarket website:

http://www.melbournedeck.com.au/

It looks like the Melbourne (Rialto) Observation Deck is preparing itself for the Eureka challenge!

I hope both survive. :)

Funny how in the 360 degree spinning pano they decide to use a very old pic (at least 3 years?) without *any* sight of E at all... ;)

http://users.bigpond.net.au/dasa/ssc/rialto.jpg

Mmmmm.... shiiiiiiiny

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v474/mugley/rialto1206.jpg

sparkalarkalarkaling (as the late Graham Kennedy would say)

Taken back in August 2004
http://img299.echo.cx/img299/5811/australiantrip245319ep.th.jpg (http://img299.echo.cx/my.php?image=australiantrip245319ep.jpg)

Brief rain shower behind the Telstra Building

http://img299.echo.cx/img299/1903/australiantrip243229el.th.jpg (http://img299.echo.cx/my.php?image=australiantrip243229el.jpg)

how do i get the images not to be thumbnails and have the image directly posted on here?

no idea with photoshack, i use photobucket, you can keep all your photos on and its all good.

Is the extension on top of Rialto still going ahead?

^ when the Eureka mast gets go ahead, the companys planning to use communications will use Eurekas mast instead, so no need for Rialtos'. (I think?)

^^^ Pretty much. Plus, remember that half the reason that Rialto mgmt was going to do this was to reclaim tallest in Melbourne status. If Eureka mast gets approval then they cannot reclaim so secondary reason also is gone (unless they build a 100m+ spire... not gonna happen :lol: )

Stu

I guess they could do a Q1 and build a glass fin + 100m spire on top of R - that would be funny! ;)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v733/barsby/DSCN2247.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v733/barsby/DSCN2250.jpg

http://www.melbournephotos.net/webcam/bkup/2005-07-11_0715.jpg

nice whens that from?

This morning at 7:15!
The images are named by date :)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v733/barsby/DSCN2558.jpg

^^^Nice one again Barsby!
Amazing that a building completed 20 years ago still generates so much interest. :)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v733/barsby/DSCN2755.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v733/barsby/DSCN2763.jpg


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v733/barsby/DSCN2775.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v733/barsby/DSCN2803.jpg

nice shots. running up-stairs competition?

yeh all 1254 of them, the firefighters not in the MFB were from NZ, they had recently done a similar thing up the Auckland Skytower.

Amazing that a building completed 20 years ago still generates so much interest. :)

Indeed! On my first venture into central Melbourne it was the first building I sought out. I've showed all my friends back home the pics I took while visiting and they all agree (even though they're not into this skyscraper malarky as much as we are) that Rialto is a beautiful structure and the views from the top are jaw dropping.....all the Birmingham forumers are jealous as well, we want one in our city. I love the fact that it's like a chameleon forever changing colour to suit it's surroundings and looks fantastic whatever the weather conditions.

Moody
http://tinypic.com/98vgo1

Radiant and reflective
http://tinypic.com/98vh1c

I didn't get no pics of Rialto during sunset or sunrise but have seen some excellent pics on here in the past.

20 Years on and it's still the second tallest skyscraper, to the roof, in Australia :-) I wonder if they have anything planned for the 20th birthday celebrations next year? Maybe a combined bithday/closing of the observation deck party :-)

Grollo, are you meaning the Gold Coast's Q1 being the first so far to roof? skyscraperpage.com has it as 275m to roof. Of course once Eureka has been completed, Rialto will drop to 3rd in Oz to roof. Still pretty amazing after 20 years for 2 scrapers to overtake it in this regard.

The great thing about Rialto is that doesn't age. Looks like it could've been built yesterday...Timeless. It will remain one of Oz's best lookers for many years to come. *loves it* http://www.sayhey.co.uk/invboard/html/emoticons/wub.gif

The roof of Q1 is 245m high. It is 275m to the top of the open fin structure.

Isn't it about time it was reclad.

Hey!! I propose a swapping of cladding. Rialto and Collins place! :cheers:

^ Lol, methinks comingsoon is being facetious.

A never before seen view of the Rialto has opened up since the removal of the King Street overpass. It will look even better when all the construction vehicles and fences come down:

http://web.aanet.com.au/nmharrison/14-10-2005/rialto new forum.jpg

That's such an improvement. I know it'll add some more traffic problems, but these routes that go through the centre of the city really need to be discouraged to all but essential traffic.

Let the demolition of surrounding crap begin. (Mainly 500 Flinders and that carpark north of the Waterside).

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v469/Stucey/New%20Internet/rialto2.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v469/Stucey/New%20Internet/rialto1.jpg

Heres my attempt guys.

Love this building.

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f271/MelbEuropa/RIMG0172.jpg

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f271/MelbEuropa/RIMG0156.jpg

A killer shot by Velco., hope you don't mind. :)
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c73/velco/rc.jpg

Ohh it is too.

Has there been any further mention of that 'antennae' atop the Rialto that was proposed some time ago or has it been totally 'killed off' ?

How high is the smaller tower?

havent heard anything about Rialtos spire.
the smaller tower on rialto is 185m.

Thank you come again! :D

i wonder what rialto would look like with a spire, they would have to make it fit in, and be blue at night time....

im only going off memory but the DA was a 54m tall spire with sphere.
the existing plantroom was to be removed to lower height from 251m to 247m. antenna totalled 301m above grd.
heres a very quick drawing of it on rialto
http://img466.imageshack.us/img466/1272/rialtospire0in.jpg

yeah i don't know about it, rialto really wasn't designed for a spire like that, it would be a challange to make it fit in.....

The spire on rialto looks ridiculous! But it may look nice at night.

No spire for rialto. Looks really good 20 years on.

I love that building near it, the One Canada Square look-alike building with blue glass and white top.

Would anyone agree that the Bourke St tower looks very Singapore-ish?