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| Sydney Observatory, Miller's Point, NSW, (built 1858) |
Located at Millers Point, Sydney Observatory was built in 1858 to conduct scientific research for the colony of New South Wales.
Originally William Dawes
created an observatory on Dawes Point, at the foot of Observatory Hill. This 1788 observatory was to be named for Nevil Maskelyne (1732-1811), the Astronomer Royal.
A windmill was built by Irish convict John Davis in 1796.
In a letter to Lord Hobart on 9th November, 1802, Governor King wrote: — "As our second windmill is now finished we shall be able to grind the wheat grown here into flour, which will enable me to receive such quantities as may be offered by private cultivators, and procure us a store in advance to meet any accident that may happen to
future crops". (This is how Miller's Point got its name)
The site has been called Windmill Hill, Fort Phillip, Citadel Hill, Flagstaff Hill and Observatory Hill.
In 1800, Fort Phillip was built here to defend against a possible attack by the French and rebellious convicts and named after the colony’s first Governor.
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| SYDNEY IN 1809. The view is from the eastern side of Sydney Cove. On the left is Government House (which stood on the corner of Phillip and Bridge Streets) on the water's edge (now the corner of Macquarie Place and Loftus Street) is a storehouse, and in front is the Governor's wharf. The row of buildings on the sky-line is the barracks, and to the right old St. Phillip's Church (the reserve at Lang and Grosvenor Streets marks the site). On the water's edge on the right are the wharf, store- house and residence of Robert Campbell; adjoining it is the Naval Officer's house, and to the left the row of buildings, stretching to the street, comprised the General Hospital and Medical Officer's quarters. In front of the two red roofs was the dockyard, and to the left of that is the Hospital or General Wharf. The windmill stood on the site of the Observatory. FROM PAINTINGS BY JOHN EYRE — ORIGINAL PRINTS IN THE POSSESSION OF JOHN FAIRFAX & SONS PTY. LIMITED. Vol. 19 No. 1 (3 January 1938) |
In 1825 the eastern wall of the fort was converted to a signal station, using flags and semaphore to communicate with ships.
in 1847, the Colonial Government built a Telegraph House at Fort Phillip.
In 1848, a new signal
station was built by the Colonial Architect, Mortimer Lewis, on top of the fort wall.
A new observatory was completed in 1858.
Every day at exactly 1.00 pm, the time-ball on top of the tower would drop to signal the correct time to the city and harbour below. The inhabitants of Sydney could then set their timepieces.
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| Observatory, Sydney. NSW, 1870, The National Archives UK |
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| View of Sydney, N.S.W. from the Observatory - 1870s, Aussie~mobs |
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| Observatory, Sydney, NSW, 1874 - New South Wales Government Printing Office |
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| Scene from the Sydney Observatory, NSW, 1880, NLAUST |
The time-ball is still dropped daily at 1pm using the original mechanism, but now with the aid of an electric motor.
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| THE FORT PHILLIP SIGNAL STATION ON OBSERVATORY HILL. NSW. Daily Telegraph (Sydney, NSW : 1883 - 1930), Tuesday 22 June 1909 |
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THE EYE END OF THE 11 ½ INCH REFRACTING TELESCOPE, SHOWING MICROMETER (UNDER CHARGE OF MR. W. E. RAYMOND, F.R.A.S.)Evening News (Sydney, NSW : 1869 - 1931), Wednesday 18 January 1911 |
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| MEXICAN EARTHQUAKE , AS RECQKDED AT THE SYDNEYOBSERVATORY. Daily Telegraph (Sydney, NSW : 1883 - 1930), Saturday 10 June 1911 |
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| The Transit Circle, used for observation of stars at Sydney Observatory, NSW, Australian Town and Country Journal (Sydney, NSW : 1870 - 1919), Wednesday 11 March 1914 |
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| Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), Tuesday 31 May 1938 |
In 1982, the NSW Government decided that Sydney Observatory would become a museum of astronomy and related fields as part of what is now the Powerhouse Museum.
In 2008, the Signal Station was restored and a replica flagstaff was re-instated on the South rampart of the Fort wall for the Sydney Observatory 150th celebration.
Around Sydney Observatory
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| Sydney Observatory grounds and building, a heritage-listed site atop the highest natural point in Sydney Cove, NSW |
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| Sydney Observatory grounds and building, a heritage-listed site atop the highest natural point in Sydney Cove, NS |
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| Steps up to Observatory Hill from Argyle Street, Sydney, NSW |
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| Observatory Park, home to the Sydney Observatory, this park has panoramic views of Sydney Harbour |
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| Observatory Park, home to the Sydney Observatory, this park has panoramic views of Sydney Harbour |
More Information
Observatory Park
SYDNEY OBSERVATORY (3 Watson Rd, Millers Point NSW 2000)
