The royal Observatory tucked behind the trees near the Liesbeek River. The Sutherland Observatory, contrary to poopular belief, has not made this one obsolete. Here, most of the analytical and reduction work is done by Sir Richard Woolley, director of the new South African Astronomical Observatory. The Royal Observatory, tucked away behind the trees near the Liesbeek River, Observatory - a recent aerial picture of the complex rarely seen by the public.