It was erected in 1852, with an unusual square form, and replaced earlier navigational aids established from the time of the first settlement in 1835.

The bluestone section has battered lower storeys, featuring rusticated masonry with smooth string courses, and had a castellated parapet with mast and spherical, copper-plate timeball above.

A large copper ball encircled the central mast and rested at the bottom in a catcher cup of iron when not in use.

Each afternoon, the ball was raised to the top of the mast and dropped at precisely one o'clock, to allow the captains of ships moored offshore to check the accuracy of their marine chronometers.

The tower provided an additional time signal at eight o'clock each night by means of eclipsing the lantern of the lighthouse.