Founders Memorial ticks again

It has been more than two years since Rockingham's Founders Memorial clock worked properly.

Now the hands of time will tick once more thanks to Shoalwater amateur horologist Jay Macfarlane.

Lifelong clock enthusiast Mr Macfarlane said he had often wondered why the iconic clock-tower at Railway Terrace, which was erected in 1979, was out of order.

He said he decided to take matters into his own hands and last week approached City of Rockingham with a plan to fix the neglected mechanism.

"It upset me every time I passed it because it is such a special thing for the city," Mr Macfarlane said. "It had been neglected and it was a shame - I thought it must have been quite easy to fix with modern technology."

Rockingham Mayor Barry Sammels said the clocktower, which has two time pieces, had suffered intermittent faults over the past two years.

Cr Sammels said the City handed the clocks to Mr Macfarlane to assess and he quickly spotted the fault and fitted a battery-operated mechanism and new hand pieces.

"The original clocks are battery powered motors which are prone to time displacement and a short operating life," Cr Sammels said.

"Mr Macfarlane did not charge for his time and only requested reimbursement for his materials totalling $150.85.

"The long-term replacement solution from Simplex Time is estimated to cost about $6000."

Mr Macfarlane said he had long held an interest in time-keeping devices and liked to restore antique clocks in his spare time.

He said he was pleased the City provided an electrician to work alongside him during the restoration process.

The clock was erected in 1979 in recognition of 150 years since the arrival of Captain James Stirling aboard the ship Parmelia.

Rockingham Senior High School students crafted the clock and embedded a time capsule within it, which was raised in May 2001.