Lifting Christmas Into Place At Martin Place
In November 2025, AOR Cranes rolled into the centre of the Sydney CBD to help build one of the city’s most recognisable festive landmarks. Over two days, our 90 tonne crane and a two-person crew helped raise the Martin Place Christmas tree into position in front of The Fullerton Hotel.
The installation ran across the 17th and 18th of November, with the tree taking shape in the middle of Martin Place during day shifts. For our operator and dogman on site, that meant a concentrated window to get the heavy work done while the city moved around them.
The tree itself is an impressive lift. It stands nearly eight storeys high once complete, with more than 300 baubles and around 100,000 lights. The structure arrives in carefully engineered sections. Each section is rigged, lifted and lowered into position, then locked off so the next layer can follow. Inside the tree electricians move through the core of the structure connecting the power and programming the lighting so the display comes to life once the sun goes down.
When all the major lifts are complete, a cherry picker circles the outside of the tree for final detailing. The design team works from a precise plan that sets out the exact placement of baubles and decorations.
For this project AOR Cranes supplied a 90 tonne mobile crane that covered the entire installation without the need for extra reach or specialised attachments. The tree sections are designed with cranage in mind. Each piece fits comfortably within the crane’s capacity and works with our standard chains and rigging, which keeps the lifting process efficient while still meeting strict safety requirements. Two AOR team members handled the work on the day, an experienced operator in the cab and a skilled dogman on the ground managing rigging and signalling.
The team worked closely with Ironhorse Installations who manage the install in partnership with the City of Sydney and Christmas specialists Chas Clarkson. More than five separate crews were active on site at different times, including traffic controllers, electricians, designers and other contractors. Jobs like this rely on planning that starts long before the crane arrives at Martin Place. That way every team understands the sequence of work and the space they’ll need.
Martin Place stays busy from first light, so working with pedestrians is the main challenge. The crane and support truck take up a significant footprint in a high-traffic area. A dedicated traffic control team manages exclusion zones and vehicle movements, and makes sure heavy vehicle access happens early so the streets are clear before the morning office rush. Clear signage, barriers and ground crew support keep people moving through the area while the lifts take place without compromising the safe working area around the crane.
For AOR, this project is a chance to see how our work shows up in people’s lives once the rigging gear is packed away. As one AOR Cranes director puts it, “This job never gets old for us. There’s something magical about being in the centre of Sydney and seeing people’s faces light up as the city’s biggest Christmas tree goes up. It’s why we love what we do, especially at this time of year.”
The Martin Place tree has become a meeting point for families, friends and city workers who want to feel a bit of Christmas spirit on their way through the CBD. It all starts with a coordinated effort behind the scenes from crews who know how to work safely in tight city spaces. Our team is proud to play a part in that experience and to support the City of Sydney’s festive program alongside trusted project partners.
If you’re planning an event installation or need crane support for work in the Sydney CBD, AOR Cranes can help with mobile crane hire, experienced operators and careful planning for complex lifts. Reach out to our team to talk through your next project and the kind of crane you’ll need to get it off the ground.
AOR Cranes is dedicated to delivering top-notch crane hire services with safety, reliability, and expertise at the core. With over 30 years of experience, we handle every project with care and expertise to meet your needs.
