Harbour Trust: The
Sites
Macquarie Lightstation: Projects and Activities
The following list in an summary of current
and completed projects and activities at Macquarie Lightstation. The list
is not exhaustive.
| List of Current and Completed Projects
and Activities |
Read Details |
Archaeological Preparation
Work
Uncovering the original
Greenway Lighthouse
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Refurbishment of the Coat of
Arms
Lighthouse Coat of Arms
shines
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Improving the Lighthouse Grounds
Grounds maintenance allows better access
to heritage features |
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Original Generator and Switchboard
Maintenance of heritage items from
the nineteenth century |
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Public Access Enabled
Work on the internals areas of lighthouse
enable public access |
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Projects and Activities
 The Greenway Lighthouse briefly stood adjacent to the existing lighthouse Archaeological Preparation Work
Archaeological Test Trenching has been undertaken at Macquarie Lighthouse
to establish soil profiles and the location of known relics on the site.
The foundations of the original Greenway lighthouse were discovered along
with parts of the Greenway wall which formed a compound around the original
lighthouse.
The Harbour Trust plans to uncover the foundations of the original lighthouse
as part of its interpretation of the site.
The original Greenway lighthouse made way for the existing lighthouse
in 1883.
The public can access the grounds of the lightstation all year round.
The Harbour Trust operates tours inside the Lighthouse regularly.
Click here for more details.
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 Coat of Arms pre-refurbishment
The commemorative NSW Coat of Arms on the floor of Macquarie Lighthouse
has recently been refurbished by a metal conservator.
Located just inside the main doors to the Lighthouse, the Coat of Arms
dates from 1901 and forms part of the lighthouse’s tessellated floor
- a floor covering typically made of encaustic (glazed and decorated earthernware)
tiles laid in a mosaic pattern.
The public can see the Coat of Arms on any Harbour Trust guided tour.
Click here for details about regular
tours.
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Improving the Lighthouse grounds
The stone retaining wall that remains from the original 1818 Macquarie
Lighthouse has been better exposed through a weed removal and clearing
program run by the Harbour Trust.
This work has further enabled the stability of the wall and the need
for any repairs to be properly assessed.
Not far from the wall, a small patch of native grasses and coastal heath
has been cordoned off for regeneration.
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Generator and switchboard
 Generator
and Switchboard The Powerhouse Museum undertook conservation work on the historic generator
and switchboard.
These two rare items of early electric lighthouse equipment date form
the 1880s. The switchboard is still on display today, however the generator
was recently removed to enable restoration works to be carried out by
the Powerhouse Museum.
When the ‘new’ Macquarie Lighthouse was built in 1883, the
latest in lighthouse technology was installed. A brilliant arc lamp was
powered by gas-generated electricity which was produced by two De Meritens
magnetos generators driven by an eight-horse power Crossley-otto cycle
silent horizontal coal gas engine at 830 rpm.
Gas was stored in an underground tank and the power was carried up to
the light by cables enclosed in a specially designed internal shaft.
The light source was provided by a powerful Serrin arc lamp and a first
order two-metre wide Fresnel lens focused the beam out to sea.
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Public access enabled
While the lighthouse tower is still owned and operated by the Australian
Maritime Safety Authority, the Harbour Trust is now conducting regular
guided tours of site.
During 2003-2004, work was completed to ensure the site complies with
the Building Code of Australia and is safe for public access.
These included installing padding above stairs, enclosing machinery and
re-routing electrical wiring.
Click here to read more about tours
of the Lighthouse.
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