Description of the attraction
The Shot Tower is one of the most famous historic buildings in the state of Tasmania in the vicinity of Hobart. It is located 11 km from the state capital in the town of Taruna. Built in 1870 by Scottish immigrant Joseph Moir, the tower is 48 meters high and 10 meters in diameter at its base. For four years after construction, it was the tallest building in Australia, and in Tasmania, it retained this honorary status for 100 years! The purpose of the tower is interesting: from its top, molten lead was passed through a sieve, which fell into the water at the foot and thus turned into lead shot.
The current owners of the tower are the heirs of Joseph Moire, who have made it a popular tourist attraction. Many are ready to climb 300 steps to the summit, in order to admire the wonderful, but at the same time dizzying views of the mouth of the Derwent River. On the ground floor of the tower, there is a small museum where you can learn the history of the Moire family and get information about the process of making lead bullets in the 19th century. There is a souvenir shop and a cafe next to the museum. And around the tower there is a beautiful garden where you can wander, enjoying the peace and quiet of the surrounding nature.
