Queens Wharf Tower, the phallic Colossus which menaced the city skyline for 30 years, is now a pile of twisted green and cream-coloured metal next to Wharf Road.

An excavator with demolition shears was picking over the carcass on Wednesday, tearing apart the giant nob that once sat atop the tower.

The remains will be taken away for recycling before Newcastle City Council fills the empty space with artificial grass and planter boxes.

In November 2017, the City of Newcastle council voted to demolish Queen's Wharf Tower, ending 30 years of "lewd jokes" over the landmark's unfortunate shape.

“"There really is no other way to describe the Queen's Wharf Tower other than as an embarrassment to the city," City of Newcastle CEO Jeremy Bath said at the time.

“I look forward to not having to answer the inevitable question of 'why' from guests and visitors when they first see the tower.”

The council cited the cost of maintaining the ageing tower as the rationale for removing it. 

In the weeks leading up to the demolition many nostalgia-filled Novocastrians climbed the 180 steps for a final view from the top. 

Nearby, the state government is completing work on the light rail line and Market Street Lawn, planting native trees and paving footpaths along Scott Street.

Transport Minister Andrew Constance announced on Monday that major light rail construction would end this month, allowing Scott Street and the rest of Hunter Street to reopen.

Newcastle Station will reopen with a public party on Saturday, September 29, before starting its new life as a multi-purpose venue run by Renew Newcastle.