The Birrabirragal clan in the cultural area Dharawal
New South Wales
The Macquarie LIghtstation Greenway Wall Restoration Project conserves one of the Harbour Trust’s most significant sites – celebrated for its Australian colonial history and First Nations heritage.
Macquarie Lightstation is the place of Australia’s first and longest operating lighthouse and is included on the NSW State Heritage Register and the Commonwealth Heritage List.Â
This project involved reconstruction of collapsed sections of the sandstone retaining wall of the original lightstation designed by Francis Greenway c1818, and its significant landscape. An archaeological discovery – footings of the original corner lodges, associated with the wall, informed new design features. A new lookout interprets the northern lodge, paving positions the first lighthouse and signage illustrates a First Nations story spanning 20,000 years.
The Harbour Trust has conserved the only visible remnant of Greenway's lightstation, and improved visitor experience through the site. An extraordinary specialist team made this project possible preserving this significant site for future generations.Â
The Harbour Trust is proud of the Greenway Wall conservation which evolved from a maintenance project ultimately addressing broader conservation matters including the landscape, interpretation and public access works. The retaining wall has been stabilised, carefully conserving original stone and archaeology, with new work being evidence based. Our lightstation tours have been updated and now include First Nations stories and built interpretation of the Francis Greenway period c1818 on site significantly enhancing the visitor experience – as demonstrated by the renewed popularity of our tours. The expert teams did a great job.
Libby Bennett, Heritage and Design Director
Catherine Macarthur, Project Architect Heritage and Design
Jane Irwin Landscape Architect, Landscape Consultant
Joy Singh Heritage Pty Ltd with NSW Public Works, Stone Specialist
Casey & Lowe Pty Ltd Archaeology and Heritage, Archaeologist
Lucas, Stapleton, Johnson and Partners Pty Ltd, Heritage Consultant
Insite Land Solutions, Heritage Consultant
Gujaga Foundation, and Coast History and Heritage, First Nations Consultant
Nick Hollo, Interpretation Illustration (exterior)
Dr Christine Westwood, Interpretation panels content and design (interior)
SDA Structures, Structural Engineer
Shreeji Consultant, Stone Specialist Engineer
Northrop Consulting Engineers, Civil Consultant
Artisan of Stone, Stone mason
Central Foundry, Bronze Casting
Cunneen Signs, Sign fabrication and installation (exterior)
Iguana, Sign panel fabrication and installation (interior)