Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2020L01339:front:0:p16
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expertise in the maintenance was required and hence a larger number of staff. This led to the construction in 1881 of two semi-detached cottages for the assistants to the Head Keeper. In 1885 new quarters were built for the Engineer and his assistant. See Figure 10 below.

The Head Keeper's Quarters were modified in 1887 after complaints about the standard of accommodation. The western wing of this building was added in 1899.

Figure 9 – 1883 Greenway Lighthouse
The Greenway Lighthouse (left of photo) was only demolished upon completion of the Barnet Lighthouse

Figure 10 – Plan of the Engineer's Quarters

Despite having once been thought to be the 'most efficient light in the world', by 1909 it was deemed to be obsolete, unable to cope with the heavy winter fogs. In 1912, following a call to standardise all lighthouses, the electric light at the Macquarie Lighthouse was replaced with a kerosene system. The new fuel was cheaper to run and required just two men to operate.

On 1st July 1915 all the ocean lighthouses were transferred to the control of the Commonwealth Lighthouse Service.

World War II to 2001
The fortifications at South Head were upgraded during World War II. At the lightstation, this included the construction of an observation posts, one east of the lighthouse and another some way down the face of the cliff, accessed by a shaft and tunnel, the location of which has since been obscured. After the war there was a rapid development in other navigational systems, and the lighthouse became simply one of a number of aids which enabled the mariner to determine his exact position. The importance of manned lighthouses such as Macquarie also decreased with the advent of integrated air systems for surveillance, search and rescue.

By 1965 the existing garage to the east of the Head Keeper's Quarters had been constructed and in 1970 the 1885 Barnet-designed Engineer and Assistant's Quarters were demolished to make way for the existing row of four townhouses. These originally accommodated the Workshop Supervisor and the Mechanics (Maritime Aids). The road access on the southern side of the site was also constructed during this time.

The station was fully automated in 1976 but the residences remained occupied by staff. In 1980 the Commonwealth Department of Construction carried out a series of works to return the Head Keeper's Quarters to its 1899 form in anticipation of it opening as a museum; however the decision to set up a museum was never taken.

In 1989 all staff associated with the Commonwealth Department of Shipping and Transport left the site.
The Commonwealth leased the Assistant Keepers' Quarters in 1991 and the Head Keeper's Quarters in 1994 as private