After some 30 years of keeping time near the intersection of Byron Street and Jonson Street in Byron Bay, the Rotary clocktower is to be demolished then reconstructed in early 2026.
The move is necessary because it sits directly above the main drain out of Byron Bay, which is being upgraded as part of the Byron Bay drainage project.
The new location for the clocktower will be a few metres from its current spot.
"The clocktower was commissioned and partially funded by the Byron Bay Rotary Club in the 1990s and was built by the late Ben King, a much-loved local and keen surfer so this clocktower has enormous significance to the town," Claire McGarry, Place Manager Byron Bay, said.
"Engineers looked at the structure of the clocktower and concluded that it would not survive a relocation so Council has worked with Rotary on the location and design of a new clocktower that retains as many features of the original as possible.
The size and shape will be much the same as the original clocktower, and the clockfaces and operating mechanism will be retained.
The exterior surface will be tiles or glazed bricks that reflect the colours of the natural environment which will be less susceptible to vandalism.
"While the clocktower will be taken down in early 2026, it will not be rebuilt until later in the year once that section of the Byron Bay drainage upgrade is finished," Ms McGarry said.
Information about the clocktower and the Byron Bay drainage upgrade is on Council's website.
