Sectional View of New Macquarie Lighthou…

Rare c.19th engraving of the Macquarie Lighthouse on Sydney’s South Head.

Macquarie Lighthouse, also known as South Head Upper Light was laid in in which was the first, and  longest serving, lighthouse in Australia. Located at Dunbar Head, on the Old South Head Road, Vaucluse. The light commenced operation in 1883 and had a range of twenty five nautical miles. The technology used in this lighthouse (it was one of the first electrically powered lighthouses in the world) was such that a higher level of expertise in the maintenance was required and hence a larger number of staff. This led to the construction in 1881 of two semidetached cottages for the assistants to the Head Keeper. In 1885 new quarters were built for the Engineer and his assistant.

From the original edition of the Illustrated Sydney News.  

Collections:
National Library Australia: Bib ID 440095
State Library New South Wales: F8/39-40
State Library Victoria: CINF SLVIC=1853-1872-RARENSL N.S.W.