hotel overview

clock tower & heritage

It is not known what inspired James Barnet to complete his masterpiece with the flourish of an elegant clock tower but it did not appear on his plans until 1880 - six years after the completion of the first stage of Sydney's General Post Office. Whatever the inspiration, it provided the boldness and character to turn what would have been a fine public building into a great one.

The tower's stone work was in place by 1887 but it stood eyeless and mute until 1891 before it was able to boast its famous clock and bells.

When finished the three-storey sandstone tower culminating in the belfry was immediately adopted as a symbol of Sydney. The clock which weighs 25 tonnes was built in England by the Shropshire firm of J. B. Joyce and Company. On the 16th September, at two minutes to noon, the Countess of Jersey, wife of the Governor, set in motion the chimes to strike the hours. The clock mechanism was wound every seven days and was connected electrically with the Sydney Observatory for hourly time checks.

At five tonnes and with a mouth diameter of two metres, the hour bell in the GPO tower is second only in size in Australia to the bell of the Canberra carillon set in Lake Burley Griffin. All of the five Sydney bells were cast in England and were the largest shipped from there to another country. This stanza from Tennyson's In Memoriam is inscribed on the bells, one line of each:

Ring out the false, ring in the true,
Ring out the feud of rich and poor;
Ring in redress to all mankind,
Ring out false pride in place and blood,
Ring in the common love of good.

Westin Sydney Hotel > Starwood Preferred guest

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