Is Sydney's Centrepoint Tower the Tallest in the Southern Hemisphere? No—Here's What Is

Sydney Tower (formerly Centrepoint Tower, AMP Tower, Westfield Tower) rises 309 m (1,014 ft) above the CBD—tallest structure in Sydney, second-tallest observation tower in the Southern Hemisphere. But it's not the overall titleholder.

The Actual Record-Holder

Burj Khalifa, Dubai, UAE – 828 m (2,717 ft). Though Dubai sits at 25°N (Northern Hemisphere), the Burj Khalifa is frequently—but incorrectly—cited in Southern Hemisphere lists due to confusion with the hemisphere concept. The true Southern Hemisphere champion is:

Autograph Tower, Jakarta, Indonesia (6°10′ S)

• Height: 382.9 m (1,256 ft), completed 2022.
• Use: Mixed-use (hotel, offices, observation deck).
• Previous Record: Luminary Tower, Jakarta (304 m, 2021) briefly held it.

Other Southern Hemisphere Giants

• Eureka Tower, Melbourne – 297 m (974 ft), residential.
• Q1 Tower, Gold Coast – 323 m (1,058 ft), tallest residential (2005–2022).
• Carlton Centre, Johannesburg – 223 m (732 ft), Africa's tallest building.
• Gran Torre Santiago, Chile – 300 m (984 ft), South America's tallest.

Why the Confusion?

Sydney Tower's tourist marketing once claimed "tallest in the Southern Hemisphere" before Jakarta's boom. Always check the latitude, not just the country.