• Macquarie Watchtower Introduction
• The Fire of 1st October 1957
• Patrick Lally: Watchman at the 'Macquarie' Tower
• Botany Heads Public School
• Other Nearby Historical Sites
• Randwick & District Historical Society Home

Macquarie Watchtower, Feb 2010 prior to refurbishment


Macquarie Watchtower, Aug 2010 surrounded by scaffolding during restoration project


Macquarie Watchtower, December 18, 2010 on completion of restoration project

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Introduction
Macquarie Watchtower, also known as the Barrack Tower, was probably built around 1821 or 1822. It is the oldest building in the City of Randwick and one of the most important heritage sites in NSW.

Although the Watchtower is often referred to using Governor Lachlan Macquarie's name, no documentary evidence has yet been discovered that positively identifies exactly when and why the Tower was constructed. Macquarie did not claim it as one of his building works.

It was originally staffed by a few soldiers who were presumably tasked to be a lookout for problems that arose in what was in the 1820s an isolated back dooor to the Colony.

Patrick Lally was appointed Watchman in 1827. When the Tower became a Customs post David Goodsir was appointed Coast Watcher, the first in a series of officials who were charged with undertaking Customs Duties. The Coast Watchers also had to help capture escaped convicts, keep order in the area and rescue distressed seamen.

The Octagonal Tower was much altered over the decades. In 1864, a conically shaped roof and was added as well additions attached to the Tower by skillion roofs. A fire in October 1957 destroyed much of these additions and parts of the Tower. The La Perouse Monuments Trust, which was then in charge of the building, cleared away rubble and "restored" the Tower to what was then thought to be the original 1920s shape. It is likely that the crenulations that were added were more numerous and solid than the original.

The National Parks and Wildlife Service commissioned a major restoration project in 2010.

Brief Chronology
• c1822 Octagonal stone tower, now known as Macquarie Watchtower, built. Troops Stationed at the site
• 1826 Troops withdrawn; tower falls into disrepair
• 1827 Patrick Lally installed at Watchman
• 1831 Customs Department acquires tower as a Customs Station
• 1831 - 1833 Repairs to tower with construction of skillion shed, boatman’s hut and privy
• Circa 1864 Construction of a conical peaked roof on the stone tower replacing the former flat roof
• 1868 Room in tower dedicated as a schoolhouse
• 1873 Purpose built weatherboard schoolhouse constructed near the tower
• 1901 Federation
• 1903 Customs Station transferred to the NSW Government
• 1904 Customs operation ceases; management transferred to Department of Internal Affairs
• Tower houses a series of tenants and caretakers until 1957
• 1950 Tower site reserved and placed under the care of the La Perouse Monuments Trust
• 1957 (October 1st) Fire destroys much of the tower and results in death of caretakers Mrs Mary Donnelly
• c.1960 Trust removes most of the fabric at the tower leaving only the stone façade
• 1961 Restoration undertaken by the Department of Lands including a reinforced concrete slab roof with a hanging beam, stone replacements and repointing with cement mortars and concrete slab floor. New crenulated turret (battlement) added; windows in filled with stone
• 1967 – Management of site by National Parks and Wildlife Service
• 2010 – Major refurbishment completed including replacement of glass windows on upper level