The Pier in the photo was built using an old swimming pool heater as the main tube, and the 2 round steel plates (About 400mm diameter) were purchased from a local metal yard.
The lower plate is welded to the top of the tube, and the upper plate is attached by 3 bolts, to allow for levelling.
The bottom of the tube has holes already drilled in it for bolting into a cement base.
You could make a concrete base 0.9 m above ground and bolt a standard 1.2m pier on to it.
This one used to hold a Meade 10" SCT.
Paul.
http://members.aardvark.net.au/jacks...south/Pier.jpg