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[td]In 1895 the headmaster was C. M. Satler<ref>{{Cite news |date=1895-12-14 |title=SWANSEA. |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article132513381 |access-date=2025-09-02 |work=Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate |pages=6}}</ref>[/td]
[td]Officially called Queens Wharf Tower, after [[Elizabeth II|Queen Elizabeth II]],<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Brook |first=Benedict |date=2017-11-29 |title=Newcastleβs βembarrassingβ Queens Wharf Tower to be demolished |url=https://www.news.com.au/travel/aust...d/news-story/a68cee88f531873006dbaf12e0fc3506 |work=News.com.au}}</ref> it was commonly known by residents as the penis tower.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Butler |first=Gavin |date=2018-08-29 |title=Newcastle's Giant Penis Tower is Set for Demolition |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/newcastles-giant-penis-tower-is-set-for-demolition/ |access-date=2025-08-31 |website=VICE |language=en-US}}</ref> It was also called "the big penis"<ref name=":4" /> in reference to [[Big things (Australia)|Australia's big things]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=McKinney |first=Max |date=2018-09-08 |title=The next Big Thing could land here |work=Newcastle Herald |pages=33 |via=NewsBank}}</ref>[/td]
[td][/td]Revision as of 08:25, 2 September 2025
[/td][td][/td] [td]had accomodation in 1909?<ref>{{Cite news |date=1909-11-20 |title=SWANSEA. |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article138468741 |access-date=2025-09-02 |work=Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate |pages=6}}</ref>[/td] [td]The tower was designed by Kevin Snell.<ref name=":1" /> It was 40.3m high with 180 steps.<ref name=":6">{{Cite news |last=Virtue |first=Robert |last2=Marchant |first2=Jenny |last3=Hamilton |first3=Craig |date=2017-11-28 |title=Newcastle's iconic, phallic-shaped Queens Wharf Tower set for demolition |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-11-29/newcastle-queens-wharf-tower-set-for-demolition/9205338 |access-date=2025-08-31 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU}}</ref> The tower had an observation desk with panoramic views of the city.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-12-04 |title=Newcastleβs βphallicβ-shaped tower to be demolished |url=https://www.architectureanddesign.c...astle-s-phallic-shaped-tower-to-be-demolished |access-date=2025-08-31 |website=Architecture & Design |language=en}}</ref>[/td] [td][/td]
[td][/td] [td]In 1910, a meeting was held to decide if the school should have a Parents and Citizens Association, and it was decided unanimously to create one.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1910-06-24 |title=SWANSEA. |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article138415589 |access-date=2025-09-02 |work=Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate |pages=6}}</ref> In 1928, the Parents and Citizens association gave Christmas presents to students.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1928-12-26 |title=SWANSEA. |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article135390328 |access-date=2025-09-02 |work=Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate |pages=3}}</ref>[/td] [td]== History ==[/td] [td]The tower was opened on 7 May 1988, by Queen Elizabeth II.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news |last=Leeson |first=Josh |date=2025-08-16 |title=After a right royal welcome, prime position fell into ruin |work=Newcastle Herald |via=NewsBank}}</ref> It was part of a $13million development celebrating Australia's bicentenary<ref name=":0" /> and was intended to help transition the city from an industrial town to one of tourism and recreation.<ref name=":2" />[/td] [td][/td]
[td][/td] [td]In 1922, it was found that students were having lessons in an "open weather shed" with no roof and no desks.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1922-07-15 |title=SWANSEA PUBLIC SCHOOL. |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article139339210 |access-date=2025-09-02 |work=Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate |pages=2}}</ref>[/td] [td]== Demolition ==[/td] [td]Discussion about b[/td] [td][/td]
[td][/td] [td]In 1929, the school was approved for a new classroom and a staff room.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1929-07-02 |title=SWANSEA |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article134491102 |access-date=2025-09-02 |work=Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate |pages=5}}</ref>[/td] [td]An [[Invitation to tender|expression of interest]] was put out by the council to see if anyone was interested in purchasing to tower so that it could be moved elsewhere, but the expression recieved little response.<ref name=":1" />[/td] [td][/td]
[td][/td] [td]References[/td] [td]When asked about the demolition of the tower, [[architect]] Kevin Snell said he was "very, very surprised [the council] dished out the money to maintain it all this time."<ref name=":1" />[/td] [td][/td]
[td][/td] [td]{{Reflist}}[/td] [td]Towards the end of its life, the tower had become a target of vandalism.<ref name=":6" /> The official reasoning to demolish the tower was because of the cost of maintenance and a lack of [[Accessibility|disabled accessibilty]] (which had been discussed as far back as 2002)<ref>{{Cite news |last=Scanlon |first=Mike |date=2002-11-16 |title=Policy may bring down city tower |work=Newcastle Herald |pages=8 |via=NewsBank}}</ref> but the council's interim chief executive Jeremy Bath also said "There arenβt many cites around the world that have placed a 30m high phallic symbol in their most prominent public place [...] There really is no other way to describe the Queens Wharf Tower other than as an embarrassment to the city."<ref name=":0" /> Lord Mayor [[Nuatali Nelmes]] called the tower a "blight on the city's landscape"<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |date=2017-11-29 |title=Australian city fights to save 'big penis' tower |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/world-news/350619697/australian-city-fights-to-save-big-penis-tower |access-date=2025-08-31 |website=Stuff}}</ref> The cost of demolition was arounf $300,000.<ref name=":3">{{Cite news |title=Whatβs happening to the βbig penisβ tower? |url=https://www.news.com.au/travel/aust...p/news-story/069829cf93522719039ca051223e225f |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20230514...p/news-story/069829cf93522719039ca051223e225f |archive-date=2023-05-14 |access-date=2025-08-31 |work=news |language=en-GB}}</ref>[/td] [td][/td] [td]Reactions by residents were mixed. People praised the views from the tower, and suggested adding [[street art]] to the tower instead of demolishing it.<ref name=":6" /> One resident who moved to Newcastle shortely after the tower was built said "I think I will cry to be honest, I took a shot last night as a final memory. It has been part of my landscape for more than a decade."<ref name=":7">{{Cite news |last=Kelly |first=Mathew |date=2018-08-15 |title=Tears for a city landmark |work=Newcastle Herald |pages=12 |via=NewsBank}}</ref>[/td] [td][/td] [td]The tower was taken down over multiple nights, first detatching the dome and observation deck.<ref name=":7" /> The remains of the tower were taken away to be recycled.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2018-09-21 |title=A length of Newcastleβs wit gone forever |work=Newcastle Star |via=NewsBank}}</ref>[/td] [td][/td] [td]== Legacy ==[/td] [td]In 2018, a [[bottle opener]] in the shape of the tower was made by Out of The Square. 3000 were sold and $22,193 was raised for the Hunter Prostate Cancer Alliance.<ref name=":2" />[/td] [td][/td] [td]The tower was mentioned in the 2001 song ''Newcastle'' by Daniel Arvidson.<ref name=":5">{{Cite news |last=Watson |first=Chad |last2=Barnier |first2=Linda |date=2001-09-17 |title=Hey, this is our song - The WORD |work=Newcastle Herald |via=NewsBank}}</ref>[/td] [td][/td] [td]The tower was one of the landmarks drawn in Trevor Dicksinson's book ''Newcastle'' Dickonson said "I was one of the few people who really liked it, I thought it should stay."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kellar |first=Jim |date=2020-11-08 |title=Trevor Dickinson is showing us all the things we missed |work=Newcastle Herald |via=NewsBank}}</ref>[/td] [td][/td] [td]A book featuring art work of the tower called ''Dick Pics'' was published in 2018.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cronshaw |first=Damon |date=2018-11-30 |title=Queenβs Wharf Tower preserved in the book, βDick Picsβ |url=https://www.newcastleherald.com.au/story/5786646/queens-wharf-tower-preserved-in-the-book-dick-pics/ |access-date=2025-08-31 |website=Newcastle Herald |language=en-au}}</ref>[/td] [td][/td] [td]== References ==[/td]
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