See how Sydney Observatory changed between 1888 and 2026. Drag the slider to compare the historic photograph with the modern view.
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## Sydney Observatory
In 1859, Sydney Observatory commenced operations on Observatory Hill, serving as Australia's first official observatory. Designed by Colonial Architect Alexander Dawson, the sandstone building featured a dome for the equatorial telescope, a transit telescope room, and an astronomer's residence. A western wing was added in 1877, introducing a second telescope dome. Initially, the observatory's primary function was to signal time to the city and harbour; daily at 1 p.m., a time-ball would drop, and a cannon was fired at Dawes Point to assist ships in recalibrating their chronometers. Over time, it became a hub for astronomical research, contributing to the first comprehensive sky atlas, the astrographic catalogue, which spanned 53 volumes from 1899 to 1971. In 1982, the observatory ceased its scientific operations and transformed into a public museum and observatory, offering visitors the chance to observe celestial bodies through both historic and modern telescopes. (en.wikipedia.org)
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