WILLIAMSTOWN OBSERVATORY (1863)

KANOWNA STREET AND RAILWAY TERRACE WILLIAMSTOWN, HOBSONS BAY CITY

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Victorian Heritage Inventory

Statement of Significance

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  • History

    WILLIAMSTOWN OBSERVATORY (1863) - History

    The Observatory was relocated to Kanowna Street from the Timeball Reserve & built on the same block as the Telegraph station sometime prior to 1857 when the Pier Railway Station was built on same site (Allom Lovell, 1987: Fig 11).
    This site is shown in 1858 as being located between Railway and Ann St Pier (inland), the exact coordinates given are 37º 42? 42, 144º 55? 15?. The Observatory was relocated to Kanowna Street by on the same block as the Telegraph station sometime prior to 1857 when the Pier Railway Station was built on same site.

    Interpretation of Site

    WILLIAMSTOWN OBSERVATORY (1863) - Interpretation of Site

    The site is now used as a car park, and it is it is possible that some archaeological remains have survived the works carried out during the railways construction.

    The high railway embankments that previously existed in this area necessitated the in-filling of large areas to level ground in this area after it was abandoned by the railways. An inspection of the current Timeball Tower entrance reveals that it is now one metre below ground level.

    This site has housed some of the earliest maritime infrastructure in Port Phillip Bay, including the earliest lighthouse the first flagstaff; first observatory; first telegraph station; light-keepers quarters; Lighthouse Battery; convict quarry tramway and railway workshops. The archaeological potential of the site is high given the level of landfill activities and the significance of the sites area extremely high. No industrial excavation work should take place in this area without a preliminary archaeological survey and subsequent watching brief.

    Heritage Inventory Description

    WILLIAMSTOWN OBSERVATORY (1863) - Heritage Inventory Description

    The Williamstown Observatory is now used as a car park and it is it is possible that some archaeological remains have survived the works carried out during the railways construction.This site has housed some of the earliest maritime infrastructure in Port Phillip Bay, including the earliest lighthouse the first flagstaff; first observatory; first telegraph station; light-keepers quarters; Lighthouse Battery; convict quarry tramway and railway workshops.

    The Williamstown Observatory is shown in this location in 1863. This was one of a succession of observatories that were located around Williamstown, and was an essential maritime service for all shipping visiting Hobsons and Port Phillip Bay

    Observatory and other artefacts associated with the site's former use.

    Archeological Potential:

    High

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  • 
    FORMER MORGUE

    

    Victorian Heritage Register H1512
  • 
    WILLIAMSTOWN PRIMARY SCHOOL

    

    Victorian Heritage Register H1639
  • 
    TIME BALL TOWER

    

    Victorian Heritage Register H1649
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