List of tallest structures in the Commonwealth of Nations


The Commonwealth dates back to the first half of the 20th century with the decolonization of the British Empire through increased self-governance of its territories. It was originally created as the British Commonwealth of Nations through the Balfour Declaration at the 1926 Imperial Conference, and was formalized by the United Kingdom through the Statute of Westminster in 1931. Though the current Commonwealth of Nations was formally constituted by the London Declaration in 1949, the Statute of Westminster in 1931 is most often used as dividing point between the British Empire and The Commonwealth.

Tallest structures

This list ranks structures that stand at least tall, measured from the base to the tallest structural point. This includes antenna masts, spires, and architectural details.
RankStructureHeightLocationCountryCompletedNotes
1CN TowerToronto, Ontario1976Tallest freestanding structure in the world until 2007; tallest freestanding structure in the Western Hemisphere.
2Twin umbrella antennas of INS KattabommanVijayanarayanam, Tamil Nadu2013Tallest military structure in the world.
3The Exchange 106Kuala Lumpur2019Tallest building in the Commonwealth of Nations.
4Petronas TowersKuala Lumpur1996Tallest twin buildings in the world.
5Kuala Lumpur TowerKuala Lumpur1994
6CKX-TV Craig broadcasting towerHayfield, Manitoba1973, 1985Collapsed in 1983; replaced by tower of same height.
7Naval Communication System, Tower ZeroExmouth, Western Australia1967Tallest structure of any type in the Southern Hemisphere.
8Inco SuperstackSudbury, Ontario1970Demolition to commence in 2020.
9VLF Transmitter SkeltonSkelton, Cumbria, England2001Tallest structure in the United Kingdom since April 2010.
10Naval Communication Station, Towers 7-12Exmouth, Western Australia1967A ring of six identical transmitters surrounding an inner ring of six shorter transmitters and the much taller "Tower Zero" transmitter.
11CHCH-DT-3 TV TowerMidland, Ontario?
12CHCH TV TowerStoney Creek, Ontario1960
13First Canadian PlaceToronto, Ontario1975
14Belmont TransmitterDonington on Bain, England1965Between October 2009 and April 2010, the mast was shorted from its original height of 387.7 metres to 351.7 metres.
15Caldbeck transmitting stationCaldbeck, Cumbria, England1961, 2008Original transmitter demolished in 2008; replaced by an identical tower built close to the original.
16Emley Moor transmitting stationEmley Moor, England1971Original 1964 transmitter had a height of 385.5 metres before collapsing in 1969; replaced by a shorter 331 metre transmitter in 1971.
17Sky TowerAuckland1997Tallest freestanding structure in the Southern Hemisphere.
18Starbuck CBC TowerWinnipeg, Manitoba?
19Q1 TowerGold Coast, Queensland2005
20Abeokuta Radio MastAbeokuta, Ogun State?Fifth tallest structure in Africa.
21CIII Television TowerParis, Ontario1974
22=CFPL Television TowerLondon, Ontario1961
22=Waltham MastMelton Mowbray, England1966, 1968Collapsed in 1966 shortly after completion; replaced by identical tower in 1968.
24Arfon MastGwynedd, Wales1962
25Menara TelekomKuala Lumpur2001
26=Winter Hill MastBelmont, England1956
26=Sydney TowerSydney, New South Wales1981
26=Bilsdale MastHelmsley, England1969
29=Black Hill MastAirdrie, Scotland1961
29=Durris MastStonehaven, Scotland1961
31Strabane MastStrabane, Northern Ireland1963
32=Mendlesham MastMendlesham, England1959
32=Lichfield MastTamworth, England1961
32=Mendip MastWells, England1967
32=Fazilka TV TowerFazilka, Punjab2007
36=PRTVC Rayfield TowerRayfield?
36=New Netim TV MastNew Netim, Cross River State?
38=CKVR Television TowerBarrie, Ontario1955
38=Naval Communication Station, Towers 1-6Exmouth, Western Australia1967A ring of six identical transmitters surrounding the much taller "Tower Zero" transmitter.
40=Central mast of INS KattabommanVijayanarayanam, Tamil Nadu1990
40=SASOL III Synthetic Fuel Production Plant SmokestackSecunda, Mpumalanga1984 left the Commonwealth in 1961 but rejoined in 1994.
42AKBC Broadcasting TowerUyo, Akwa Ibom?
43Large Ikorodu TV MastIkorodu, Lagos State?
44=Duvha Power Station SmokestackseMalahleni, Mpumalanga1984 left the Commonwealth in 1961 but rejoined in 1994.
44=Komati Power Station SmokestackMpumalanga1966 left the Commonwealth in 1961 but rejoined in 1994.
44=Mumbai TV TowerMumbai, Maharashtra1972

Former tallest structures

This list ranks demolished or destroyed structures that stood at least tall, based on standard height measurement. This includes antenna masts, spires, and architectural details.
RankStructureHeightLocationCountryCompletedNotes
1VLF Transmitter WoodsideWoodside, Victoria1982Demolished in 2015; was the second tallest structure in the Commonwealth of Nations upon completion in 1982. Tallest structure in the Southern Hemisphere for its entire lifespan.
2Cape Race LORAN-C transmitterCape Race, Newfoundland and Labrador1965Collapsed in 1993; replaced by a much shorter 260m tower shortly thereafter.
3Central PlazaHong Kong1992The transfer of sovereignty over Hong Kong in 1997 ended the colony's status as a part of the Commonwealth through the United Kingdom.
4CBC TowerShawinigan, Quebec1972Demolished in 2001; replaced by a new tower of an unknown but similar height. If the new tower's height is the same as the original, it would be the eighth tallest structure in the Commonwealth.
5Bank of China TowerHong Kong1990The transfer of sovereignty over Hong Kong in 1997 ended the colony's status as a part of the Commonwealth through the United Kingdom.

Timeline of tallest structures

This list ranks structures that were the tallest in the Commonwealth of Nations, measured from the base to the tallest structural point. This includes antenna masts, spires, and architectural details. Since 1973, Canada has been home to the tallest structure in the Commonwealth.
PeriodBuildingImageLocationCountryHeight
1931 – 1954Canadian Bank of Commerce TowerToronto, Ontario
1954 – 1956CICT-TV Towers 1 & 2Calgary, Alberta
1956 – 1960Winter Hill transmitting stationBelmont, England
1960 – 1967CHCH TV TowerStoney Creek, Ontario
1967 – 1973Naval Communication Station, Tower ZeroExmouth, Western Australia
1973 – 1976CKX-TV Craig TV TowerHayfield, Manitoba
1976 – presentCN TowerToronto, Ontario