When I went to university in Newcastle, the 30 metre-high Queens Wharf Tower was referred to as “the big knob” due to the fact that it, quite unmistakably, looks like… well a big knob – plus the beach nearby is named Nobbys, so it’s actually smarter than you first suspected, yeah?
But the majestic phallic beast will no longer greet ferry passengers as they sail into the beautiful coastal city — hearts filled with hope, minds filled with smut — as the tower is set to be demolished next year.
Now, the City Council are claiming the $1.6 million annual upkeep is the reason for the chop, but it’s clear what the real reason is.
“There aren’t many cities around the world that have placed a 30m high phallic symbol in their most prominent public place,” Newcastle City Council’s Chief Executive Jeremy Bath told The Newcastle Herald.
“There really is no other way to describe the Queens Wharf Tower other than as an embarrassment to the city.”
True Novocastrians disagree, and even go to the trouble to write and record protest songs urging the city to save the landmark.
“Listen, listen, bad decision. We don’t need your circumcision/ The big penis, it does the trick; every picture of Newie is a sick dick pic.”
Listen below.
