Historic buildings and grounds

HISTORIC BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS

THE SITE
The site of Sydney Observatory, now known as Observatory Hill, was previously known as Windmill Hill, Citadel Hill, Fort Phillip and Flagstaff Hill, describing its functions over time. All of these functions relied on its location as the highest point overlooking Sydney Harbour. For all of these functions, it had to have a clear view to the distance and be clearly visible, so its setting has some of the best views in Sydney.

THE OBSERVATORY BUILDING
Sydney Observatory was built between 1857 and 1859. Its design combined the practical needs of an observatory and astronomer’s residence with the impressive appearance of a public building in an Italianate style.

Sydney Observatory. Photo by Geoffrey Wyatt

In keeping with the Observatory’s time-keeping role, the tower and time ball were given greater prominence than the telescope dome.

Our self-guided tour and plan of the Observatory building will give you an idea of what you can see and do here.

The Powerhouse Museum Online Public Access Catalogue has information about the history of Sydney Observatory.

The telescope in the south dome
The beautiful telescope in the south dome was installed to observe the 1874 Transit of Venus. It is the oldest working telescope in Australia and is of immense historic importance. It has a large lens of 29cm diameter at the far end of the tube. From the large lens the light is focussed down the tube towards the eyepiece. It can be viewed from the staircase but entry is only possible on sessions guided by Observatory staff.

The telescope in the north dome
The north dome and west office wing were added to the Observatory in 1878. The extension was designed by the government architect James Barnet. The north dome was needed because the time ball tower blocks much of the view of the eastern sky from the original south dome. The north dome now houses the state-of-the-art computer-controlled 40cm reflecting (mirror) telescope. Entry only on sessions guided by Observatory staff.

The lecture room and 3D space theatre
Until 1882, this was the astronomer’s drawing room. To be able to make observations whenever necessary, the government astronomer needed to live on site. The residence occupied the eastern half of the building.

The 1888 photos of the drawing room (now the lecture room) are on view in the Russell Room, directly above, and look north towards the new French windows in the extension to the room, and south to the passage door.

Mapping the sky from Sydney Observatory
From 1887 Sydney Observatory took part in an international project to photograph and map the entire sky. It took almost 80 years for the Observatory to document the large zone of the southern sky it had been allocated.

Many of the photographs were taken from a telescope that was positioned in what is now part of the grounds of Sydney Observatory near the front entrance gate (a sign marks the spot). The telescope was housed in a corrugated iron shed before a brick dome was built.

Meteorological readings
The Observatory published Australia’s first weather map in 1887. Weather readings were taken in the grounds of Sydney Observatory until 1917. The Bureau of Meteorology still takes readings nearby.

From 1866 the main thermometer was protected by a shade-house like the white lattice reconstruction on the front lawn. Rain gauges and other instruments were kept on the front lawn.

THE SIGNAL STATION AND FORT PHILLIP
For more than a century, shipping signals were sent and received from here. Signal flagstaffs were first erected here on Fort Phillip’s walls about 1810, followed shortly after by a semaphore mast. During the 1850s these were replaced by two tall signal masts, which remained in use until the 1930s.

Until the 1920s two flagpoles were used to pass messages to other signal stations and the port authorities. Signal flags on the hill announced the arrival of ships into Sydney Harbour. The flags also informed port authorities of the names, origin and cargo of new arrivals. Weather and other information was communicated by signal flags to the people of Sydney, and to another signal station at Bedlam Point near Gladesville for relay on to Mays Hill above Parramatta.

A hut had been set up on the fort wall for the signal or telegraph master in 1825 but by the 1840s the position had grown in importance and better accommodation was necessary. The cottage was designed by colonial architect Mortimer Lewis and built in 1848 as a residence and store for the signal master and his family. The cottage was extended in 1859 to add storage and office space.

Originally used as an office and store, the lower rooms were then converted to a kitchen and laundry. The timber and iron covered way was built to connect the rooms; this rough and ready structure is almost as old as the cottage itself.

More about the history of the Signal Station….

The signalmaster's cottage and flagstaff

Fort Phillip archaeological excavation
An archaeological investigation of Fort Phillip was undertaken by the Government Architect’s Office as part of a program of conservation works to mark the Observatory’s 150th Anniversary in 2008.

The archaeological work was aimed at furthering our understanding of this important site and Sydney’s early history so that it can be permanently displayed and interpreted to the public and protected for future generations.

The excavation program revealed substantial, intact foundations of the Fort (built in 1804-1806) and its bomb-proof chamber as well as military related artefacts such as gun shot, flints and buttons. Other domestic artefacts include bones, ceramics and pieces of fine glass ware. Remnants of the bomb-proof’s plaster floor also survive.

The archaeological findings provide information that is not available in any written records about the original design and construction of the fort, its adaption as a signal station and the lives of the people stationed there. The bomb-proof and fort footings are the earliest of their kind to be found in Australia.

THE MESSENGER’S COTTAGE
The Messenger’s Cottage was built in 1868 for the signal-station messenger. The building is now used as offices by Sydney Observatory staff, and can be seen from Sydney Observatory grounds, but is not open to the public.

THE GROUNDS
The Observatory gardens were extended to the existing fencelines in about 1875. Formal gardens were cultivated, but these lost their elegance during the 20th century. For some time a tennis court was the main feature of the eastern lawn. In 1987 the grounds were landscaped to recreate the layout and vegetation of the 1880s.