The Australian Government: Sydney Harbour Federation Trust. Planning.

Harbour Trust: Planning

The Plan: Macquarie Lightstation Ta-ral-be (outer South Head)

The Site and its Context

The Place

Refer to Figure 10.1 (PDF, 86kb ) Plan Area

Macquarie Lighthouse, the head lighthouse keeper's quarters and semi-detached assistant keeper's quarters of the 1880s lightstation remain on 2.2 hectares on Sydney Harbour's southern headland adjoining a public coastal walkway.

To the East are sheer cliffs and the ocean and to the West lies land sloping towards the harbour with excellent views to the CBD. Open parkland lies on the northern and southern boundaries.

The area has an open, wind swept character enhancing the bold white appearance of the lighthouse, a structure which is still used for its initially intended purpose - a guiding light for sailors showing the way to the Harbour entrance.

The site contains remnants of the (original) colonial 1818 lighthouse, retaining wall and various archaeological remains.

How the Place Evolved
Natural Forces

The Peninsula of South Head has been formed by layers of sandstone (visible in the cliff faces) being warped and uplifted over millions of years.

Macquarie Lightstation sits in a prominent position near the cliff top at the high point of the ridge.

The area is highly exposed and has very shallow soil and rock outcrops. The lightstation and adjacent areas have been cleared with some of the open heath and open scrub vegetation being replanted in limited areas. The open areas are grassed and exotic species, of which the Norfolk Island pines are the most obvious, have been planted around the residences.

Cultural History

Indigenous Occupation

The Trust will be undertaking research into the former Aboriginal occupation of this area.

Original Macquarie Lighthouse
Macquarie Lighthouse, the first to be built in Australia, was designed and supervised by Francis Greenway and Captain John Gill. Work commenced in 1816 and the structure was completed in 1818 with Robert Watson (Watsons Bay) appointed the first lighthouse keeper that same year.

The Lighthouse, enclosed by a walled precinct with pavilions at each corner, was built using stone quarried on site. The stone was of poor quality and soon began to erode. This resulted in the tower having to be strapped with iron bands.

The Head Keepers Quarters, incorporating the southwest pavilion, were built in 1836.

Replica Lighthouse
In 1883 a new lighthouse was completed, designed by James Barnet to closely resemble the original Greenway tower. It was built less than four metres away from the original and was illuminated by gas-generated electricity. For a short time, the old and new lighthouses stood side-by-side on South Head.

Semi-detached quarters were built for the Assistant Keepers in 1881 and quarters for the Engineer and his assistant were built in 1885. The Head Keeper's accommodation was upgraded in 1887.

Technological Changes to the Light Source
The new lighthouse ran on gas-generated electricity.

In 1912 the electric light was converted to kerosene and in 1915 was transferred to the control of the Commonwealth Lighthouse Service. Re-conversion to electricity took place in 1933.

The Engineer's and Assistant's quarters were demolished in 1970 and replaced by the four existing town houses.

The last lightstation staff left the site in 1989 after the light became automated. It is the oldest continually operating light in Australia.

Site Conditions Summary
Flora and Fauna

Macquarie Lightstation sits in a prominent position near the cliff top at the high point of the ridge.

The area is highly exposed and has very shallow soil and rock outcrops. The lightstation and adjacent areas have been cleared with some of the open heath and open scrub vegetation being replanted in limited areas. The open areas are grassed and exotic species, of which the Norfolk Island pines are the most obvious, have been planted around the residences.

There are no known threatened flora and fauna species on the site, however a community of striped Marsh Frog has been identified on the land surrounding the lightstation.

Building and Services

There are seven dwellings on the Macquarie Lightstation site, two garage/stables buildings and the lighthouse.

The earlier dwellings are single storey and built of stone and rendered brick work with timber-framed roofs sheeted in corrugated steel. The recent two storey townhouses are of cavity brick construction with cement tile roofs. The lighthouse is built of stone and its roofs are lined in lead. The main stair to the lighthouse is of cast iron.

The built structures are all in good condition having remained continuously occupied. The Trust has recently undertaken repairs to the boundary fence and has begun upgrading balustrades and fire services in the lighthouse for compliance with the Building Code of Australia.

The site also contains archaeological remains, stores, paths, fences, stone retaining walls and an extensive grassed area, all of which are generally in good condition. The earlier stone remains will require some conservation and stabilisation work in the near future.

The seven dwellings are connected to sewer, water and electricity supplies. The only services to the lighthouse are a connection to the electricity grid. There is an on-site diesel generator servicing the lighthouse in the event of power failure. The essential electricity services to the lighthouse have been regularly tested and maintained by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority.

A more detailed summary of the site conditions is located at Section 12 Background Material.

Contamination

A Phase 1 Environmental Assessment has been carried out for this site. As would be expected for a site with no history of contaminating activities, the only contamination issue identified is that related to deteriorating lead based paint systems.

No asbestos materials or PCB containing electrical capacitors were identified in the easily accessible areas of the lighthouse.

The Planning Context

Refer to Figure 10.2 (PDF, 244kb ) Planning Context

Macquarie Lightstation is located in the Local Government Area of Woollahra, which is subject to the provisions of Woollahra LEP 1995. As indicated on Figure 10.2 (PDF, 244kb ) the site is zoned for open space purposes and adjoins Christison Park to the South and Signal Hill (and the Gap Park) to the North. These lands are similarly zoned for open space purposes. Land to the West across Old South Head Road is zoned 2 residential 'A', which allows predominantly single detached dwellings.

The area from the Gap to Christison Park, including the Macquarie Lightstation site, forms the start of the Eastern Suburbs coastal bushland corridor that extends to Maroubra Beach in the South. Council is currently undertaking significant bush regeneration works on the Gap Park to the North of the site.

Access to Macquarie Lightstation is from Old South Head Road, with a number of Sydney Buses (324, L24 and L82) operating past the site. The coastal walk upon which the lightstation is located, incorporates Watsons Bay to the West of the site, where a ferry service operates daily to and from Circular Quay. There is no car parking provided specifically for visitors to the lighthouse and street parking is relatively restricted in the summer months. More detailed information on these matters can be found in 'Background Material' at Section 12.

Consultation Outcomes Summary

Community consultation has shown that the community values the history and architecture of the Macquarie Lightstation and acknowledges its significance as the first lightstation in Australia. The prominent location of the lightstation in Vaucluse is valued as it can be viewed from many locations around the Harbour. The scientific nature and technological mechanics of the lightstation are also considered to be important. Potential future uses identified by the community include preservation of the lightstation and incorporation of a range of uses such as educational facilities, exhibitions and a community meeting place.

Qualities
  • Clear and single function
  • Mown grass and white painted simple form contrasts with the windblown coastal planting and exposed rock shelves
  • The lightstation is an "alien" element in relation to both the surrounding residential area and the natural environment of cliffs and crashing sea
  • A natural high point extended even higher
  • Invitation to enter the harbour safely - and a symbol of Sydney's relationship to shipping

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Significant Values and Considerations

Refer to Figure 10.3 (PDF, 106kb ) Heritage Values and Figure 10.4 (PDF, 165kb ) Natural and Cultural Values

  • Site of the first purpose built lighthouse and the longest-serving lightstation of national significance still extant in Australia
  • Outstanding landmark quality and landscape setting on South Head ridge
  • The buildings and the archaeological remains provide a direct historical association with Governor Macquarie and with colonial architects Greenway and Barnet
  • One of an important group of lightstations designed by James Barnet who followed closely the design of Francis Greenway's original lighthouse and set a distinctive style for NSW lighthouses until the last one built in 1905
  • The lightstation provides evidence of the changing living and working conditions of the lighthouse keepers and their families, who constituted a now redundant maritime community
  • The light installed in the Barnet lighthouse was for some time the most powerful navigational beacon in the world
  • The lightstation provides evidence of the development of lighthouse technology and navigational aids in general since the 1880s
  • The building of the lighthouse and other site elements Illustrate:
    • the dependence of the colony on shipping
    • the difficulties of construction in the early period of European settlement relating to the isolation of both the area and of the colony and the necessity of quarrying stone on site

The Plan Figure 10.3 (PDF, 106kb ) Heritage Values shows the heritage items resulting from the Revised Conservation Management Plan carried out by Clive Lucas Stapleton and Partners for the Department of Finance and Administration dated June 2001.

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Outcomes

Vision and Benefits

Refer to Figure 10.5 (PDF, 332kb ) Outcomes

The Plan for Macquarie Lightstation maintains the site's position as an important attraction along the coastal walk - a prominent landmark for all to see - preserved and enhanced.

Occasional public access to the lighthouse and the Lighthouse Keeper's cottage will be arranged.

The cliff top parkland will be expanded by the removal of the fence.

The archaeological remains of the original Greenway lighthouse offer potential for interpretation (lighthouse, compound and quarry), and further conservation, stabilisation and archaeological work.

The Plan for Macquarie Lightstation envisages minimising the impact of intrusive ancillary buildings and the removal of the modern town houses in the long term.

The landmark quality of the lighthouse would be retained and enhanced through the management of the recent landscape features, in particular the removal of the Norfolk Island Pines.

Work will be carried out to upgrade the fence and curtilage.

The possible contamination caused by deteriorating lead based paint will be addressed as part of the maintenance program for the site.

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