More Progress At Fire Tower

LEFT: The structure towered over local forestry areas during the peak of its operations RIGHT: Support structures being installed at the tower recently (Photos: JFTAG)

October 28, 2026

Work to refurbish and stabilise the historic Jimna Fire Tower is moving ahead quickly after years of speculation about the future of the structure.

The Jimna Fire Tower Action Group – the group which has been lobbying for years for the structure to be repaired – released a photograph this week which shows the heavy machinery now on site.

A spokesperson said the structure support and tower leg bracing mechanisms were almost completed.

“Once the tower legs are secured, the lower set of three sway wires shall be installed and tensioned, in preparation for the removal of the individual damaged leg sections,” the JFTAG spokesperson said.

“The next stage shall be dressing the grey ironbark logs to size, followed by splicing and installation of the new tower leg sections.

“Each stage of this unique engineering feat is being carried out by specialists in their field, under the supervision of the consultants to the main contractors, world renowned wood specialist company, Wood Research and Development.

“The Jimna Fire Tower Action Group takes this opportunity to sincerely thank the Queensland Government for funding the repair of this iconic example of Australian history and heritage.”

The 47m tall Jimna Fire Tower was built in 1977 and is claimed to be the tallest man-made wooden fire tower of its type in the southern hemisphere.

It was formerly a popular tourist attraction in the region, with visitors climbing to the top to take photographs of the surrounding forestry areas.

However, it was closed to tourists in 2006 because of its condition and was later removed from the Queensland Heritage Register.

Local residents formed the action group at the time to lobby for the tower’s re-development as a tourism location.

The latest work will stabilise the structure, which at one point had been described as “in danger of collapse”, but will not allow it to be reopened to tourists.

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