Sydney’s iconic lighthouse gets a makeover

Stage-heritage listed Hornby Lighthouse is NSW’s third oldest lighthouse. Guiding vessels safely into Sydney Harbour since 1858, it has undergone a significant refurbishment to preserve its historic integrity.

“In 1857, two maritime tragedies, the deadly wrecking of the Dunbar off South Head and the Catherine Adamson off North Head, triggered the need for a lighthouse to safely guide seafarers to shore,” explained Port Authority of NSW chief executive Captain Philip Holliday.

“Standing now 166 years later, the eye-catching red and white stripes are a crucial part of our network of navigational aids that, along with our marine pilots with their detailed knowledge of local waterways and some advanced technology, safely guide ships passing through our harbours to avoid maritime disasters.”

Port Authority of NSW general manager of Projects Catherine Blaine said the restoration took meticulous care and attention to preserve the lighthouse’s significant heritage features and restore its structural integrity.

“We conducted an analysis of the paint used in 1858 to create a modern version that almost exactly replicates the original, repainting the external walls to recreate the iconic red and white stripes,” she said.

“We worked closely with heritage specialists to restore the sandstone blocks using a desalination process to prevent corrosion, replaced and waterproofed damaged roof panels, gutters and glazing, repaired the steel lamphouse structure and the heritage steel internal staircase, and upgraded the electrical infrastructure for the lantern to future proof the lighthouse for the years to come.”