The Watchtower

The Macquarie Watchtower, an Australian relic, is the earliest known surviving, sandstone tower building in Australia, the oldest surviving building... more

by Miroslava Jurcik

Title

The Watchtower

Artist

Miroslava Jurcik

Medium

Photograph

Description

The Macquarie Watchtower, an Australian relic, is the earliest known surviving, sandstone tower building in Australia, the oldest surviving building on Botany Bay, and has long been recognised as a picturesque landmark on the headland.
The Watchtower was built at around 1810s as a military guardhouse and a lookout station with an intention to intercept smugglers. A preventive officer who lived there would watch all vessels coming along the coast from the tower`s flat roof. Ships that entered the bay were required to stay mid-stream until the clearance papers were checked by a customs functionary.
Not only is it the oldest surviving watchtower in Australia but it is the only known tower specifically constructed for colonial border protection and the prevention of smuggling. Duperry makes reference to English soldiers stationed there when he visited in 1824.
It became the first Customs outstation in Australia in 1829 and operated as a Customs Station until 1903.
The pic was taken at La Perouse, Sydney, 2013

Uploaded

October 4th, 2020