Lights on for Australia 108

Australia 108 unveiled a dazzling light display seen throughout the city to mark one year since construction wrapped on the tallest building in Melbourne.

Fireworks shot up from the top of the 319-metre skyscraper at 70 Southbank Boulevard during the celebrations in early May.

At the same time, owners switched on the highest building lighting system in the Southern Hemisphere.

Known for its iconic golden belt, called the “Starburst”, Australia 108 now also boasts 18 backlit white stripes running up its exterior.

“The lighting display will put Australia 108 in the company of dramatically lit buildings worldwide,” CEO of developer World Class Global David Ng said.

Australian architect Fender Katsalidis and the team at Electrolight programmed in four different settings: wave, ripple, pulse and starburst, inspired by the building’s centrepiece.

They’ve planned further displays for special occasions like Christmas and New Year’s Eve.

Australia 108 overtook its predecessor, the Eureka Tower, by about 20 metres to become the highest building in Melbourne during its construction in 2020.

It’s also the second tallest building in Australia behind the Gold Coast’s Q1, which is 322 metres high.

These titles will likely be short-lived, with construction expected to begin this year on Australia’s tallest tower at Southbank by Beulah, just across the road. •