Boyd's Tower
This 23 metre tower constructed of blocks of Pyrmont sandstone was built in 1847 and was initially intended as a lighthouse by Benjamin Boyd, the Scottish entrepreneur, who was then building Boydtown and East Boyd, and planned to base his Steamship Company in Twofold Bay.
However, it was deemed unsuitable for the purpose by the Crown and was never commissioned.
It was subsequently used as a whale spotting tower.
Quite a number of such towers dotted the coast during the hey-day of Twofold Bay's shore-based whaling operations (which launched up to 30 boats), but the others were made of timber and have not withstood the ravages of bushfires which periodically sweep through this area.
The tower was designed by Boyd's Whaling Master, Oswald Brierly (who was also an artist, later knighted and appointed as Queen Victoria's Marine Artist) and was situated just above the treacherous Seahorse Shoals whose presence is only detectable by breaking waves during heavy seas.
Following the collapse of Boyd's financial empire, the tower was taken over by the Davidson family whose Whaling Station was based at Kiah Inlet.
During the season the tower was manned daily and the Kiah Inlet crews alerted to the presence of sighted whales by a gunshot.
The site is now administered by the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service.
Magnificent views can be enjoyed from the lookout on this site.
Google Map and directions from Eden
Facilities - non-flush toilets, lookout.
There is a 350 metre bitumen track with a lay-by running through melaleuca trees.The lookout is not accessible but there are good views from the track and interesting geological formations.