Harbour Trust: Planning
Management Plan
Macquarie Lightstation
The Harbour Trust has developed a management plan for Macquarie
Lightstation, Old South Head Road, Vaucluse.
| Publication Details |
| Title |
Management Plan - Macquarie Lightstation
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| Publication Details |
Sydney Harbour Federation Trust, December 2007 |
| About this Publication |
In 2003 the Harbour Trust proposed that the Macquarie Lightstation
be conserved as a significant coastal attraction. This management
plan provides specific details of what is proposed for the site.
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| To Download PDF
Files |
Macquarie Lightstation - Part 1 (PDF - 587 KB)
Contents: Introduction, Commencement Date, Land, Aims, Relationship
to Other Plans, Related Policies, Statutory Planning Context, Non-Statutory
Plans, Neighbouring Lands, Site Description, Surrounding Lands, Site Analysis
Macquarie Lightstation - Part 2 (PDF - 2,230 KB)
Contents: View Analysis
Macquarie Lightstation - Part 3 (PDF 2,066 KB)
Contents: Site Analysis continued, Commonwealth Heritage Values, Outcomes
Macquarie Lightstation - Part 4 (PDF - 1,117 KB)
Contents - Outcomes continued
Macquarie Lightstation - Part 5 (PDF 2,027 KB)
Contents: Outcomes continued, Implementation, Future Actions, Acknowledgements, Related Studies |
Summary of the Management Plan for Macquarie Lightstation
Introduction
In September 2003 the Harbour Trust completed a comprehensive plan for
the sites it manages around Sydney Harbour. The plan sets out a vision
for these sites and includes a process for the preparation of more detailed
management plans for specific precincts, places or buildings.
The Comprehensive Plan proposes that the Macquarie Lightstation be conserved
as a significant coastal attraction. The archaeological potential of the
site would be investigated and the potential for interpretation of demolished
structures explored. The landmark quality of the lighthouse would be retained
and enhanced by the removal of intrusive elements such as fencing, inappropriate
planting, and, in the long term, the modern townhouses. Contamination
on the site would be remediated.
The Management Plan provides more specific details of what is proposed
for the site.
Macquarie Lighthouse 2006
Site description and history
The Macquarie Lightstation is located on 2.2 hectares on Old South Head
Road, Vaucluse. Within the site are the 1883 James Barnet Lighthouse,
the 1836 Head Keeper’s Quarters, the 1881 Assistant Head Keeper’s
Quarters and a 1970s townhouse complex. The site contains remnants of
the 1816 Greenway compound wall and other areas of archaeological potential.
The Lightstation adjoins public open space and its eastern boundary is
skirted by a coastal walking path providing spectacular views.
The significance of the Macquarie Lightstation is derived from its longstanding
role as navigational beacon and landmark on Sydney Harbour; historical
associations with Governor Lachlan Macquarie and colonial architects Francis
Greenway and James Barnet; significant archaeological remains and potential;
and the technical achievement of the construction of the lighthouse and
operation of the beacon. It is still in use and is the oldest continuously
operating lighthouse in Australia.
Vision for the site
The vision for the site is to preserve and enhance the Macquarie Lightstation’s
position as an important attraction along the coastal walk and as a prominent
harbour landmark. The site's rich cultural heritage will be protected
and interpreted.
Top of page
Two lighthouses
Photograph courtesy of the National Library
of Australia
Proposals for the site
The key outcomes contained in the Macquarie Lightstation Management
Plan are summarised below:
- Conserve and interpret the site's heritage values;
- Continue the use of the Lighthouse as a navigational beacon;
- Continue the private residential occupation of the site's dwellings;
- Connect the site as part of a sequence of open space along the cliff-edge,
while enhancing its sense of place as a discrete, institutional compound;
- Retain the open character of the site, while allowing some natural
heath-like regeneration to take place;
- Retain the habitat values of the quarry, while allowing for select
removal and pruning of some dominant tree species to maintain the visual
relationship between the Lighthouse and the sea;
- Conserve and reconstruct the Greenway retaining wall, and interpret
the footprints of former Greenway structures;
- Remove intrusive buildings and fences;
- Realign fences to enhance the symmetry associated with the compound;
- Provide amenities, limited to the use of visitors to the Lightstation;
- Preserve and improve the visual prominence of the Lighthouse and views
to and from the site by select removal of intrusive trees; and
- Improve public access to the site, and rationalise vehicular access
arrangements.
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