Pyrmont, weather vane

This weather vane or weathercock is located on the community centre at Refinery Square off Bowman Street, in the inner west suburb of Pyrmont. This building was the former main office or administration building of the Colonial Sugar Refining (CSR) Co Ltd, which had a major sugar mill, sugar refinery, rum distillery and building products manufactured here. The weathercock was manufactured at the coppersmiths workshop by copper artisans C. Marsden Sr and G. Orpwood Sr. It was erected as a memorial for the relief of the Siege of Mafeking, in South Africa during the Second Boer War, where British Forces under the command of Colonel Robert Baden-Powell were besieged from October 1899 to May 1900. It was originally placed on the high point of the refinery but after the demolition of the factory was preserved and reinstated here in 2010.

Linked to: Skywatch Friday.