Macquarie Lighthouse, Sydney

Macquarie Lighthouse, Sydney

Macquarie Lighthouse (GPS: -33.85395, 151.28518) is the oldest functioning lighthouse in Australia. It is located on Old South Head Road, Vaucluse, near the entrance to Sydney Harbour. The site of the Macquarie Lighthouse has had a navigational aid placed there since 1791 and the first lighthouse was built near its the present site in 1818. The current lighthouse was completed in 1883.

Within one year of the arrival of the First Fleet in 1790, a flagstaff had been erected on the site. This was followed, by a tripod mounted wood and coal fired beacon in 1793. The first lighthouse on the site, designed by the famous convict architect Francis Greenway, was built of sandstone. It was named the Macquarie Lighthouse, after Lachland Macquarie, the Governor of New South Wales after whom Macquarie Street in Sydney was named. The first superintendent of the Macquarie Lighthouse was Robert Watson, after whom Watsons Bay was named. The sandstone lighthouse was functioning until 1878, after which it needed to be replaced.

James Barnet designed the current Macquarie Lighthouse. It is sited 40 metres from the original structure, built of more durable material but otherwise of a similar design. The present lighthouse was opened in 1883. In 1976, it was fully automated, and the last lightstation staff left the site in 1989.

The Macquarie Lighthouse is still fully operational and is under the administration of the Australian Maritime Safety Authority. The grounds are under the management of the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust.

Macquarie Lighthouse is on the Map of Sydney, Australia

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