Well, I just returned from watching the demolition of the tallest structure in the southern hemisphere, the smelter stack at Port Kembla. I watched from a safe distance at the lighthouse in Wollongong, where a thousand or so gathered. Listening to the radio I heard that people were watching all over the Illawarra. Some were at the fence at the edge of the exclusion zone, some were on roof-tops at Berkeley, many were at Hill 60 and some were at Robertson! I wouldn't be surprised to learn that some saw it from Bald Hill.
The prediction was that it would come down between 8.30 and 9.30 so I though I'd be at work by 10.00, about an hour late. No, it wasn't brought down until about 11.10 and so I was quite late
. But, hey, it's a once in a lifetime event. It was built in 1965 so it's been a local landmark for as long as I remember.
They bought it down by blowing out the base but I don't think it went completely to plan. It was supposed to fall to the ne but it went more to the nw. It was also supposed to break into three pieces but it just fell as one piece. The fall looked very graceful and took longer then I expected. After the explosions it lent for a while before gathering pace as it toppled. Then a cloud of dust rose and spread, fortunately being blown out to sea, but not before covering all the spectators at Hill 60.
I took lots of shots but I think the camera's buffer filled just at the most interesting moment. I'll see tonight and post a few of the better shots. Meanwhile more shots are
here.
..... it wasn't the tallest structure in the Southern Hemisphere, or even Australia, as it was only 198m tall. (I did a bit of work with tall towers in one job I had hence knowing that 198m isn't that tall, even for Australia).
