The Signal Station building (often referred to as the Signal Masters Cottage), on Observatory Hill, was both the private residence and work space for the Signal Master, and his family. Built on the foundations of the uncompleted Fort Phillip, the building was certainly not palatial, as the original building consisted of only four rooms, two of which were bedrooms. The structure was rebuilt in stone in 1847-1848, on plans by the colonial architect Mortimer Lewis. In the absence of telephones or email, the Signal Master was assisted by two messengers who relayed signal information to government offices in town. Initially they were appointed from the convict population and another building, near the 'Signal Master's Cottage', was erected to house them. This building which is known as the 'Messenger's Cottage' currently houses the offices of Sydney Observatory staff.

Unfortunately little is currently known about the lives of the first Signal Masters, but James Burton appears to have been appointed in 1829, William Dodd in 1830. In 1841 John Jones was the first Signal Master appointed to live in the building and he held the position until 1854.

In 1854 he was succeeded by Joseph Moffitt, someone we know a little more about. Moffitt had gained his signalling experience working on ships and as Master of the floating light ship Rosa, which was positioned just inside the Harbour Heads, over the submerged reef known as the Sow and Pigs Shoal. This floating light ship was used to signal passing ships so they could avoid the treacherous rocks .

When Joseph moved into the Signal Station he brought with him his wife, Mary, and ten children. All of whom were expected to live in the cramped residence. Somehow they managed to house their family in array of buildings on the top of Flagstaff Hill, but in 1857, work began on the new Observatory building, next to the Signal Masters Station, and this brought the issue of space to a head. One of the main areas of contention was the destruction of the remaining tower of the windmill. This had been built in the colony's early years, and the Moffit family had used to house, not only signalling equipment and flags, but also his family's kitchen and wash-house, and the bedroom of two children.

Moffitt petitioned the government for more facilities and the necessary works were completed two years later in 1859. These renovations included the addition of a water-closet (a toilet), a new store and extra room for the Moffitt children. In 1862 Joseph died and he was succeeded in the following year by one of his sons, George, who held the position until his own death in 1900.

George Moffitt was born in 1842 and was Joseph and Mary Moffitt's third child and first son. Unlike his father George never married and had children and he left his inheritance, which included a Watson's Bay property to his niece Ada Margaret Moffitt.

The Government appears to have taken some time filling the position as the next known Signal Master was Jeremiah McCarthy, who took over in May 1902, and held the job for eighteen years, until 1920. In September of that year Frederick John Gibson took over, filling the position until his death, nineteen years later, in 1939. Gibson had previously worked at South Head Signal Station and was the son of William Henry Gibson, a lighthouse keeper .Gibson was the last Signal Master at Fort Phillip, the Signal Station's use of flags and semaphores being made redundant by new radio communications technology during the Second World War.

Geoff Barker, Curator, October 2008

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