Mount Lofty Fire Tower, Fire lookout tower in Adelaide Hills, South Australia.
Mount Lofty Fire Tower is a 34-metre steel lookout tower standing on the summit of Mount Lofty within Cleland National Park, east of Adelaide. From its top, spotters can see Kangaroo Island to the southwest, Monarto to the east, the Fleurieu Peninsula to the south and the plains beyond Two Wells to the north.
The tower was built in 1980 and initially operated under National Parks and Wildlife Service oversight before being transferred to the Country Fire Service. This shift marked a key change in responsibility for the region's fire management operations.
On 1 January 1988 the tower featured in the Australia Live broadcast on Channel 9 for the Australian Bicentenary. The three spotters appeared alongside former Adelaide radio journalist Murray Nicoll, who had won a Walkley Award for his live report from his own street in Greenhill as it burned during the Ash Wednesday fires. Afterwards the three teenage spotters appeared in local media and a two-page Woman's Day feature.
The site offers good visibility across the surrounding terrain and access roads are reachable from nearby areas. Visitors should prepare for changeable weather and the effects of the elevated location.
On 1 January 1988 the tower was broadcast live across Australia on Channel 9 as part of Australia Live, marking the bicentenary. The three teenage spotters appeared with former Adelaide radio journalist Murray Nicoll, who had won a Walkley Award for his report from his own burning street in Greenhill during the 1983 fires. The spotters later featured in a two-page Woman's Day article.
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