A plan to upgrade The Lodge could see the Prime Minister’s official residence relocated from Deakin to Black Mountain’s Telstra Tower, which has been “closed for refurbishment” since July 2021.

Proudly rising 195.2 metres above the summit of Black Mountain, the tower “continues to act as a networking facility”, however, the revolving restaurant has been closed since 2013.

Resistance to the proposed move has come from Black Mountain Guardians, a community group which is concerned that public access to the mountain could be restricted due to security issues.

“I understand The Lodge is considered too modest to be the official residence for modern-day Prime Ministers, who prefer the harbour-side opulence of Kirribilli House for entertaining dignitaries, but taking over Telstra Tower is problematic,” said BMG spokesperson, Aprelle Phull.

“Local residents must be allowed to enjoy the beauty of nature on Black Mountain and the views from the carpark without being repelled by security detail swooping like magpies during nesting season,” Ms Phull said.

Future plans for Telstra Tower have not been revealed by the telecommunications giant, the company’s official website simply stating: “We are working through our plans for a refurbishment of the Telstra Tower”. However, it’s possible the pointy end could be removed to make way for a helipad.

Once a popular tourist destination for the 360-degree panoramic views it offered across the Canberra region, the location would make the tower an ideal venue for the Prime Minister to host high-level international dignitaries.

Ongoing plans for the current site of The Lodge could see the property sold to the ACT Government for a high-density public housing development or to tech billionaire Elon Musk, who is ostensibly seeking an Australian base close to Canberra’s emerging space industry sector.

Look at the first letter of each paragraph of this story to help you determine its validity.

Canberra Daily is keen to hear from you about a story idea in the Canberra and surrounding region. Click here to submit a news tip.