List of tallest buildings in Sydney


, the largest city in Australia, is home to 1,168 completed high-rise buildings, more than any other city in Australia. Of those completed or topped out, the entire city has 40 buildings that rise at least in height, and 11 which rise at least 200 metres in height – the second–highest number of skyscrapers in Australia, as well as a further 18 buildings rising to at least 150 metres in height currently under construction.
Although the tallest buildings in the city have historically been concentrated in the central business district and immediate surrounding areas such as Barangaroo and Ultimo, suburbs within the Sydney metropolitan area have all seen a substantial surge in the development of high rises and skyscrapers in recent years, with major satellite centres such as Chatswood, Parramatta, North Sydney, St Leonards and Macquarie Park all witnessing or playing host to the construction of skyscrapers rising above 150 metres. As a result, Sydney has the tallest building and most skyscrapers outside an inner city area or core in all of Australia.
Sydney was one of the first cities in Australia and internationally to welcome the introduction of skyscrapers and high-rise office blocks in the mid 20th century, alongside cities in North America such as New York City and Chicago. Witnessing a boom in the 20th century, Sydney has played host to various buildings which have held the title of the tallest building in Australia including the General Post Office, AWA Tower, AMP Building, MLC Centre, and the Australia Square tower in 1967 at 170 metres tall, which was Australia's first true skyscraper as defined as rising above or at least 150 metres high. Since 2020, Crown Sydney has been Sydney's tallest building and the 4th tallest building in Australia, rising to a height of 271 metres.

History

The earliest high-rise constructed in Sydney was Culwulla Chambers, which stands at a height of and was completed in 1912. Designed by Spain, Cosh and Minnett, the building consisted of 14 floors and cost £100,000 to build, equivalent of approximately $1 million in today's money.
and city skyline, 1920s
Sydney originally had a height limit that was enforced until 1957. The abolition of this limit saw a construction boom for skyscrapers and buildings beginning in the early 1960s with the construction of the Australia Square, notable for being the world's tallest light weight concrete building at the time it was built and is also notable for being the first skyscraper in Australia. Since August 1981, the tallest structure in Sydney is the Sydney Tower, at. However, according to the international standard of the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat, observation towers are not fully habitable and do not count as buildings. Hence, the tallest building in Sydney is Crown Sydney, which was completed in 2020 and stands at. It is also the fourth tallest building in Australia.
A recent height restriction implementation had slowed Sydney's high-rise developments. However, this height restriction was lifted in 2016 which now allows buildings to be built as high as on condition that public spaces are not overshadowed. This was raised to at the end of 2019.
Sydney's most recent residential tower, 505 George Street, will rise 270 metres, comprising 80 stories much of it serviced apartments. As the tower penetrates Sydney Airport's Obstacle Limitation Surfaces it will require an Aeronautical Impact assessment approval.
In December 2019, Crown Sydney, a mixed use tower under construction in the Barangaroo precinct, overtook Chifley Tower's tallest height of 244 metres.

Tallest buildings

This list ranks completed buildings in Sydney that stands at least 150m tall, including new buildings which have fully reached their architectural height. All structures are measured to the highest architectural detail, including spires.
RankNameImageHeight Height FloorsYearPurposeLocationAddressNotes
1Crown Sydney271889752020Mixed UseBarangaroo~Hickson RoadTopping out in March 2020, an ultimate completion date is scheduled for December of 2020. Officially the tallest building in Sydney upon completion.
2Chifley Tower244801501992CommercialCBD2 Chifley SquareTallest building in Sydney from 1992 to 2019. It was one of the most expensive buildings in the world at A$1.2 billion. Designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox.
3Citigroup Centre243797502000CommercialCBD2 Park StreetDesigned by
4Deutsche Bank Place240787392005CommercialCBD126 Phillip StreetThe second-tallest building in the world with fewer than 40 floors. 160m to roof. Designed by Norman Foster.
5Greenland Centre237778672020ResidentialCBD115 Bathurst StreetTopped out in July 2020. On track to be completed in late 2020.Tallest residential building in Sydney upon completion
6Meriton World Tower230754752004ResidentialCBD85 Liverpool StreetTallest residential building in Sydney from 2004 to 2019. Tallest building in Sydney without a spire. Part of the World Square complex. Designed by Nation Fender Katsalidis.
7MLC Centre228748601977CommercialCBD19 Martin Place244m to antenna and 227m to roof. Tallest building in Sydney from 1977 to 1992. Designed by Harry Seidler.
8Governor Phillip Tower227745541993CommercialCBD1 Farrer Place254m to antenna and 227m to roof. Tallest Building in Sydney to antenna. Designed by Denton Corker Marshall.
9Ernst & Young Tower222728452004CommercialCBD680 George Street190m to roof. Part of the World Square complex.
10RBS Tower219718412000CommercialCBD88 Phillip StreetMore commonly known as Aurora Place but officially RBS Tower. 188m to roof. Designed by Renzo Piano.
11International Tower 1217711502016CommercialBarangaroo100 Barangaroo AvenueDesigned by Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners.
12ANZ Tower195639462013CommercialCBD161 Castlereagh StreetDesigned by
13Suncorp Place193633481982CommercialCBD259 George StreetConstruction began in 1970 and was not completed until 1982, as the project was delayed many times.
14AMP Centre188616451976CommercialCBD50 Bridge StreetTallest building in Sydney from 1976–1977. Currently undergoing major redevelopment/refurbishment, will become Quay Quarter Tower. Designed by Peddle Thorp & Walker.
15Century Tower183600501997ResidentialCBD343 Pitt StreetTallest residential building in Sydney from 1997–2004.
16Grosvenor Place180590451988CommercialCBD225 George StreetDesigned by Harry Seidler.
17International Tower 2178583432015CommercialBarangaroo200 Barangaroo AvenueDesigned by Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners.
18Altitude - Tower A
177581552017ResidentialParramatta330 Church Street
19Capita Centre173567311989CommercialCBD9 Castlereagh StreetDesigned by Harry Seidler.
=20Australia Square Tower170557461967CommercialCBD264 George StreetTallest building in Sydney from 1967–1976. Designed by Harry Seidler.
=20Meriton Tower170557482006ResidentialCBD551 George StreetDesigned by Harry Seidler.
=20Metro Grand Residences170557402014ResidentialChatswood438 Victoria Avenue
=23The Peak Apartments168551461996ResidentialHaymarket2 Quay StreetTallest residential building in Sydney from 1996–1997. Part of the Market City complex.
=23International Tower 3168551402016CommercialBarangaroo300 Barangaroo AvenueDesigned by Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners.
=251 O'Connell Street166544361991CommercialCBD1 O'Connell StreetDesigned by Peddle Thorp & Walker.
=25Westpac Place166544352005CommercialCBD275 Kent StreetDesigned by Johnson Pilton Walker
27201 Elizabeth Street165541401978CommercialCBD201 Elizabeth StreetFormerly known as the Pacific Power Building. There are plans to demolish the building to build a new 174m residential building
28Gateway Plaza164538461989CommercialCBD1 Macquarie PlaceDesigned by Peddle Thorp & Walker.
29HSBC Centre162531371988CommercialCBD580 George StreetFormerly known as The Pavilion Building.
301 Denison Street 15651148~2020CommercialNorth Sydney1 Denison StreetTopped out in December 2019
=31Cove Apartments158518452003ResidentialCBD129 Harrington StreetDesigned by Harry Seidler.
=314 Parramatta Square158518392019CommercialParramatta4 Parramatta SquareTopped out in July 2019. Opened in early 2020
33Hordern Towers156511481999ResidentialCBD401 Pitt StreetPart of the World Square Complex.
=34EY Sweeney155508402015CommercialCBD200 George StreetDesigned by Francis-Jones Morehen Thorp.
=34Metro Spire Residences155508372014ResidentialChatswood440 Victoria Avenue
=36100 Mount Street152498392019CommercialNorth Sydney100 Mount StreetCompleted in June 2019
=36Angel Place152498352000CommercialCBD123 Pitt StreetDesigned by Peddle Thorp & Walker.
=36Sydney Central152498311992CommercialCBD477 Pitt Street
=3985 Castlereagh Street151495322011CommercialCBD85 Castlereagh StreetPart of the Sydney Tower complex. Also known as the JP Morgan building. Designed by John Wardle Architects.
=39Lumière Residences151495472007ResidentialCBD487 George StreetDesigned by Norman Foster.

Major precincts


Precinct Completed or Topped OutUnder ConstructionApprovedTallest Building
Sydney CBD3065Chifley Tower - 244 m
Barangaroo420Crown Sydney - 271 m
Parramatta263Altitude Tower A - 177 m
Chatswood200Metro Grand Residences - 170m
North Sydney2101 Denison Street - 159 m
St Leonards020St Leonards Square - 133 m
Macquarie Park002

Tallest buildings proposed, approved and under construction

This is a list of 150m+ proposed, approved and under construction skyscrapers in Sydney.

Timeline of tallest buildings

Includes tallest structures for comparison.
NameImageYears as tallestHeight Height FloorsNotes
Old Government Windmill
1797-18091239-One of the first tall structures in Sydney. Demolished in the 1850s for the Sydney Observatory
Old St Philip's Church1809-182415494Demolished in 1856
St James' Church1824–186952170–
Garden Palace1875–1882642092Destroyed by fire in 1882, site is today part of the Royal Botanic Gardens.
Town Hall1882–1891571874
General Post Office1891–1939732395
Sydney Harbour Bridge–134439–Tallest structure in Sydney 1932–1956.
AWA Tower1939–196211236714
AMP Building1962–196511537726
State Office Block1965–196712841938Demolished in 1997 to make way for Aurora Place.
Australia Square Tower1967–197617055746
AMP Centre1976–197718861645Reconstructed structure in 2018 to make way for Quay Quarter Tower.
MLC Centre1977–199222874860
Sydney Tower–309101319Tallest structure in Sydney 1981–present.
Chifley Tower1992–201924480150Tallest building in Sydney from 1992 - 2019; 10th-tallest building in Australia.
Crown Sydney2020 -27188975Topped out in 2020; will become the tallest building in Sydney upon completion