The DNA Tower.

The story

The DNA Tower is Perth's most distinctive piece of public sculpture-architecture — equal parts observation deck, public artwork, and tribute to one of the 20th century's defining scientific discoveries. It was commissioned in 1966 by Dr John Beard, director of Kings Park and Botanic Garden from 1961 to 1970 and the man most responsible for establishing the modern Botanic Gardens. The structural engineering was done by D&H Fraser Consulting Engineers, and construction was carried out by the Gradisen family — Dutch migrants who had arrived in Australia in 1951.

The choice of a double-helix form is both whimsical and deliberate. Watson and Crick's seminal paper on the structure of DNA was published in 1953, only thirteen years before construction; the genetic helix was the iconic visual of mid-20th-century science. But the structural choice was also intensely practical. A double helix allows two people to climb simultaneously in opposite directions without colliding — a feature Beard borrowed directly from the famous double staircase at the Château de Blois in France's Loire Valley, attributed (probably wrongly) to Leonardo da Vinci.

Climb the 101 steps and you reach the highest viewing point in Kings Park, with a panoramic 360° outlook. To the east, the Perth CBD skyline. To the south, the bend of the Swan River curving past South Perth and Crawley. To the north, the rest of Kings Park and the Bushland Forest. To the west, on a genuinely clear day, the coastline, Fremantle, and the silhouette of Rottnest Island floating offshore. A compass-style plaque at the top identifies major landmarks in each direction.

The paving around the base is a separate small artwork in its own right. It was constructed using stones contributed from 11 towns and 80 shires across Western Australia, making it a tribute to the whole state's geographic and community diversity. The original 1966 design included a shallow reflecting pond at the base, since removed for maintenance reasons.

"The double-helix design was decided upon for pragmatic reasons, for the convenience it provided for people to climb and descend the staircase." — Wikipedia, on the DNA Tower design rationale

The DNA Tower is one of the few Big Things in Australia that is also a genuine piece of working architecture — most Big Things are sculpture-attractions you photograph from a distance, but the DNA Tower is something you climb. The structural engineering is rigorous (Perth gets serious wind exposure), the open-air staircase feels secure, and the experience of ascending while the city reveals itself around you is genuinely affecting. It's one of the most-photographed locations in Perth.

Visiting the DNA Tower

The DNA Tower stands at the highest point of Kings Park & Botanic Garden, at the western end of Forrest Drive near the Saw Avenue car park. It's freely accessible 24/7 — Kings Park itself has no entry fee, no opening hours, and no tickets. The tower is well-lit at night and is a popular sunrise and sunset photography spot.

What's at the site

• The DNA Tower itself — 15m double-helix staircase, 101 steps, free climb, panoramic views at the top.
• The base paving — stones from 11 towns and 80 shires across WA. The legend is engraved into a plaque nearby; worth a few minutes' attention before climbing.
• State War Memorial — a short walk from the DNA Tower. The DNA Tower sits within the broader memorial precinct of Kings Park, alongside the State War Memorial Cenotaph and Court of Contemplation.
• Federation Walkway — a 620m elevated glass-and-steel walkway through the treetops, opened 2003. Closes at sundown but a stunning daytime walk.
• Western Australian Botanic Garden — 17 hectares of native WA flora. Wildflower season (September–November) is spectacular.
• Aboriginal Art Gallery and visitor centre — at the Fraser Avenue entrance.

About Kings Park

Kings Park & Botanic Garden is one of the largest inner-city parks in the world — 400 hectares of bushland, manicured gardens, memorials, and viewing areas on the bluff above the Swan River. It was gazetted as a public reserve in 1872 and given protected status in 1890. Today it's free to enter, open 24/7, and one of Perth's defining attractions, used by joggers, picnickers, tourists, school groups, and the city's annual ANZAC Day dawn service.

The park hosts several other distinctive features beyond the DNA Tower: the State War Memorial (with eternal flame), the Federation Walkway (elevated glass-and-steel canopy walk), the Western Australian Botanic Garden (17ha of native flora), the giant boab tree "Gija Jumulu" (relocated 3,200km from the Kimberley in 2008), and dozens of significant Aboriginal heritage sites. The DNA Tower sits in the memorial precinct, near the State War Memorial.

What else is nearby

Kings Park sits on Mount Eliza, the bluff that defines Perth's southwestern edge. After the DNA Tower, easy add-ons include the rest of Kings Park (give yourself half a day minimum), the Perth CBD (10 minutes by car), Elizabeth Quay on the river (15 minutes), and Cottesloe Beach (20 minutes for the Indian Ocean coast). See our full Perth travel guide for the comprehensive city itinerary.

For other Big Things in WA, the closest is the Big Lollipop (Wedge Island, north of Perth) and the Big Orange (WA) at Harvey (1.5 hours south). The Big Tap at Quairading is 2 hours east; the Big Boxing Crocodile at Humpty Doo NT is 4,000km north-east.

Trivia worth knowing

• The DNA Tower was commissioned in 1966 by Dr John Beard, Director of Kings Park & Botanic Garden from 1961 to 1970.
• Structural engineering was by D&H Fraser Consulting Engineers; construction was by the Gradisen family, Dutch migrants who arrived in Australia in 1951.
• The design is inspired by both the Watson-Crick DNA double-helix model (1953) and the double staircase at the Château de Blois, France (early 16th century).
• The tower is 15 metres tall and has exactly 101 steps. Each step is generously sized and the railing gaps are narrow — helpful for nervous climbers.
• The paving and low walls around the base incorporate stones contributed from 11 towns and 80 shires across WA, making it a tribute to the whole state.
• The original 1966 design included a shallow reflecting pond at the base, since removed.
• The DNA Tower is the highest viewing point in all of Kings Park, offering panoramic 360° views.
• It's one of the few Big Things in Australia that is genuinely also a piece of working architecture — most Big Things are sculptures, the DNA Tower is something you climb.

When to visit

Perth has a Mediterranean climate — hot dry summers (December–February, 30–40°C), mild wet winters (June–August, 15–20°C). Spring (September–November) is the wildflower season and the best overall time to visit Kings Park. The DNA Tower is climbable year-round but avoid peak summer middays when the open-air metal staircase gets hot. Sunrise and sunset are the photographer's hours. Late afternoon weekdays are quietest.