Macquarie Lighthouse facts for kids
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| Macquarie Lighthouse, Dunbar Head | |
 Macquarie Lighthouse
Location in Sydney
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| Location | Vaucluse, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
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| Coordinates | 33°51′14.2″S 151°17′06.6″E / 33.853944°S 151.285167°E |
| Year first constructed | 1818 (first) |
| Year first lit | 1883 (current) |
| Automated | 1976 |
| Construction | Sandstone tower |
| Tower shape | Cylindrical tower with balcony and lantern atop service building |
| Markings / pattern | White tower and lantern |
| Height | 26 metres (85 ft) |
| Focal height | 105 metres (344 ft) |
| Original lens | 1st order sixteen sided Fresnel lens (1883) |
| Current lens | 1st order bivalve Fresnel lens (1933) |
| Intensity | 800,000 candela |
| Range | 25 nautical miles (46 km; 29 mi) |
| Characteristic | Fl (2) W 10s. |
| Admiralty number | K2632 |
| NGA number | 111-6316 |
| ARLHS number | AUS-218 |
The Macquarie Lighthouse is Australia's oldest and longest-serving lighthouse. It's also known as the South Head Upper Light. You can find it on Dunbar Head in Vaucluse, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
It stands about 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) south of South Head, right at the entrance to Sydney Harbour. People have used navigation aids here since 1791. The first lighthouse was built in 1818, and the one you see today was finished in 1883.
James Barnet designed the current lighthouse and its buildings. It's still working today, managed by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority. The land around it is looked after by the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust.
The lighthouse is so important that it's featured on the coat of arms of Macquarie University. It's also listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register and the Commonwealth Heritage List.
Contents
History of the Lighthouse Site
The area around the Macquarie Lighthouse has been used for guiding ships for a very long time. As early as 1788, South Head was a lookout point for boats entering Sydney Harbour. Before 1816, there was a flagstaff, a fire beacon, and a signal station here.
In 1790, Arthur Phillip, the first governor, ordered a flagstaff to be put up. This helped communicate when ships arrived in the harbour. Later that year, a stone column was also built to help ships find the entrance to Port Jackson.
This column was destroyed by a storm in 1792. It was rebuilt using bricks from Bennelong's old hut. By 1793, a tripod with an iron basket was used to burn wood or coal as a light. A walking track, which is now Old South Head Road, led to the site.
The First Macquarie Lighthouse
After the Napoleonic War in 1815, many more convicts were sent to New South Wales. This led to more ships arriving in Sydney. So, Lachlan Macquarie, the governor, decided to build Australia's first lighthouse at the entrance to Port Jackson.
Francis Greenway was the architect for this project. The foundation stone was laid on July 11, 1816. Building the lighthouse was very hard because there weren't enough good materials or skilled workers.
The lighthouse was mostly finished by December 1817. It started working permanently in 1818, with Robert Watson as its supervisor.
However, the lighthouse had problems early on. The soft sandstone began to crumble by 1823. Repairs were needed many times over the years. By 1873, the light wasn't strong enough, and the lantern was too small for new technology. So, in 1878, the government decided a new lighthouse was needed.
The new lighthouse began construction in 1880, very close to the old one. It was officially lit in 1883.
The Current Lighthouse (Barnet's Design)
James Barnet designed the new lighthouse. His design looked very similar to Greenway's original, showing how much he respected Greenway's work. Barnet's lighthouse was one of the first in the world to use electricity.
It started working in 1883 and could be seen from 25 nautical miles away. The original light used gas, but on bad weather days, an electric arc lamp was used. This made it one of the most powerful lights in the world at the time.
In 1912, the lighthouse switched to a cheaper kerosene system. Then, in 1933, it went back to using electricity when it was connected to the main power grid. The lighthouse became fully automated in 1976. The last staff left the site in 1989.
The Head Keeper's Quarters, built around 1840, is the oldest lightkeeper's home still standing in Australia.
Recent History
During World War II, the defenses at South Head were improved. An observation post was built near the lighthouse. After the war, new navigation systems developed, making lighthouses less critical.
In 1970, an older cottage for the engineer was taken down to build four townhouses. The lighthouse became fully automated in 1976, but staff continued to live in the residences for some time.
Today, the lighthouse is leased to the Australian Maritime Safety Authority. The cottages are leased as private homes.
What the Lighthouse Looks Like
The Lighthouse Tower
The lighthouse is a round tower made of sandstone blocks. Its walls are about 0.9 to 1.2 meters (3 to 4 feet) thick. On each side of the tower's square base, there are two wings. These used to hold equipment for generating power and a workshop.
Inside, there are four levels of floors leading up to the lantern. The circular stairs are made of cast iron. Around the lantern, there's a gallery made of bluestone with a gunmetal railing.
Keeper's Cottages
The Head Keeper's Cottage has parts that were designed by Francis Greenway in 1818. This cottage was later expanded in the 1830s.
The Assistant Keeper's Quarters were built in 1881. This is a large sandstone home designed by James Barnet. It has been carefully restored.
Other structures on the site include stone retaining walls and walls from former buildings.
Why Macquarie Lighthouse is Special
The Macquarie Lighthouse site is very important to Australia's history. It has been a navigation beacon since 1794 and was home to Australia's first lighthouse in 1818.
It shows how lighthouses developed in the 1800s. It's part of a group of buildings on South Head that helped guide ships into Sydney Harbour for centuries.
Famous People Connected to the Lighthouse
The lighthouse is linked to several important historical figures:
- Francis Greenway (1777–1837), the Colonial Architect who designed the first lighthouse.
- Governor Lachlan Macquarie (1761–1824), who ordered the first lighthouse to be built.
- James Barnet (1827–1904), the Government Architect who designed the current lighthouse.
- Chance Brothers and Co., who supplied parts for the Barnet Lighthouse.
A Beautiful Landmark
The Macquarie Lighthouse is a stunning landmark. It has been a symbol of Sydney for a long time. Many early paintings and photos show its beauty. Barnet's decision to copy Greenway's design shows how much people already loved the original lighthouse's look.
The lighthouse adds to the beautiful scenery of Sydney Harbour. Its neat buildings stand out against the rugged clifftop and windy coastal landscape.
Important to the Community
The lighthouse is highly valued by the local community and people across Australia. It represents the early European settlement of Australia. The lighthouse symbol is on the coat of arms for the Woollahra Municipal Council and Macquarie University. This shows its importance as a local landmark and a symbol of guidance.
Many heritage registers list the lighthouse, proving its national importance. Public tours are often held, allowing people to learn more about this historic site.
Hidden Historical Clues
The site of the Macquarie Lighthouse may hold important archaeological clues. These clues could tell us more about the original Greenway lighthouse and even earlier lookout points from 1790.
The remains of old roads and walls could reveal details about their design. This site is rare because it's an early colonial place linked to Macquarie and Greenway. It can teach us a lot about Sydney's early development and the ideas of that time.
Because people have used this site for so long, it can also show us how buildings and technology changed over time for lighthouses in New South Wales.
Unique and Rare Features
The Macquarie Lighthouse precinct is unique. Even though not much of the original physical evidence remains, we can still understand its early design from what's left and old descriptions. Its design, with a walled area and corner lodges, was popular at the time.
The site shows three main goals of Governor Macquarie's building plans:
- Building things that were useful.
- Building things that looked good and helped civilize the colony.
- Building symbols of the British Empire far away from home.
The Macquarie Lighthouse is one of about thirteen major coastal lighthouses in New South Wales that still exist. It shows how lighthouse technology changed and what life was like for lighthouse keepers. The Head Keeper's Quarters is the oldest, most complete lightkeeper's home in Australia.
Images for kids
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The first Macquarie Lighthouse, built 1816–18, photographed in the 1870s.
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De Meritens generators at the Macquarie Lighthouse engine room.
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Crossley coal gas engine at the Macquarie Lighthouse engine room.
