Ngunnawal Elders say commitments for a cultural tourism venue at Telstra Tower have been quietly abandoned, despite years of consultation and government support.

Aunty Violet Sheridan and Uncle Richie Allan say they have been excluded from conversations about the future of the iconic tower since the ACT Government and Telstra signed a letter of intent to redevelop the site in mid-2024. Backed by Independent Senator David Pocock and MLA Thomas Emerson, they have called on the government and Telstra to honour the commitment.

The ACT Government and Telstra say they are working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

Background

The iconic Telstra Tower (formerly known as Black Mountain Tower) opened in 1980, and ran as a tourism destination until July 2021; tourism operators said its condition was an “embarrassment”, the ABC reported then.

Following advocacy led by Aunty Violet and Uncle Richie, Telstra engaged Deloitte to develop a proposal for the site in consultation with Traditional Owners. In 2023, the ABC reported that Telstra Tower would reopen as a Ngunnawal cultural destination, with digitally enhanced viewing platforms, culturally inspired dining, and education programs focused on Ngunnawal connections to Country. Telstra indicated it was prepared to invest tens of millions of dollars in the project.

Chief Minister Andrew Barr posted on LinkedIn at the time: “Pleased to see Telstra outlining their initial thinking for the Telstra Tower renewal project. They have been engaging with local stakeholders, including the ACT Government, for some time now.”

In June 2024, Telstra and the ACT Government signed a letter of intent to work together to redevelop the tower as a visitor destination.

But in June 2025, the ACT Government announced $233,000 in budget funding to progress the partnership with Telstra. Their joint media release did not mention Traditional Owners or the earlier Ngunnawal-led plans. During Estimates hearings, Mr Barr referred to potential “adventure tourism” uses for the site, but did not refer to Ngunnawal cultural tourism.

During Annual Reports hearings in November, an ACT official confirmed the government had seen the Deloitte feasibility report developed with Traditional Owners, but the Chief Minister described it as “a matter between [Telstra] and the community”.

Independent politicians

Mr Emerson said: “It’s incredibly disappointing that Telstra and the ACT Government are baulking at earlier commitments made to the Ngunnawal community regarding the future of Telstra Tower.

“Extensive work went into developing a Ngunnawal-led vision for transforming Telstra Tower into a world-class cultural icon. Telstra invested in plans, and put significant capital on the table, to bring that vision to life. Turfing all that work would be both wasteful and deeply disrespectful to the Traditional Owners who’ve been driving this process. Genuine shared decision-making means actually working together from start to finish, not looping in Traditional Owners after the key decisions have already been made.

“This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to put Telstra Tower back on the map as an iconic cultural landmark.  There’s still time for the ACT Government to salvage these plans and relationships.”

Senator Pocock said: “Respect for Traditional Owners needs to extend beyond words to real action. Ngunnawal people engaged in good faith, and that should be respected, not ignored. 

“A lot of work has gone into ensuring Telstra Tower becomes an even more iconic feature in Canberra and is a celebration of Ngunnawal culture. This is a huge opportunity for Canberra, and the ACT Government needs to ensure the original vision is what guides the redevelopment and reopening of the tower.

“It’s been years that Telstra Tower has been closed to the public, and the site has sat vacant. Let’s not allow this to become yet another missed opportunity to celebrate Ngunnawal culture and enliven tourism in the nation’s capital.”

ACT Government and Telstra

Over the next year, the government and Telstra will finalise commercial arrangements and plan refurbishment, while engaging with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to co-design cultural elements, a government spokesperson said.

The spokesperson said that Telstra Tower will be refurbished in stages before it can safely reopen for visitors. Stage one is due to be completed in late 2027.

The government recognised the cultural significance of Black Mountain, and was working with Traditional Custodians to ensure the reopening of Telstra Tower delivered “meaningful cultural opportunities”, the spokesperson said.

Mr Barr met Aunty Violet this week to discuss the future of Telstra Tower. The spokesperson said their discussion was positive, and they agreed to continue collaborating on the project.

Aunty Violet is investigating ways to fund the project through Indigenous economic and cultural development programs, and the government is working with Lyrebird Dreaming to engage Ngunnawal Traditional Custodians.

A Telstra spokesperson said: “Given the cultural significance of the site, it’s critically important to us that the Ngunnawal Traditional Custodians are a part of the planning process. The ACT Government is leading this engagement and is in the process of developing its engagement plan with the support of its specialist advisors. We’ve appreciated the positive conversations to date and are committed to continuing this engagement. Commercial negotiations between Telstra and the ACT Government will continue in parallel.”