Green Cape Lighthouse
Encyclopedia
The Green Cape Lighthouse is a lighthouse
located at the tip of Green Cape
, a headland
forming the northern boundary of Disaster Bay, in southern New South Wales
, Australia
. It is the southernmost lighthouse in New South Wales and Australia's first lighthouse built in concrete
. At 29 metres (95.1 ft) it is also the second tallest lighthouse in New South Wales. It marks Green Cape on the northerly shore hugging sailing course.
, northerly ships would hug the shore to avoid the East Australian Current
. Green Cape was the first major projection they would encounter. Original tenders were for a stone lighthouse and rubble quarters. However, with the soft local sedimentary, no one tendered. In 1870 the specifications were changed to concrete and a budget of £17,000 AUD was set.
The tower was designed by James Barnet
in 1880 and the contract was awarded to Albert Aspinall
who quoted £12,936 in December 1880. The tender was for the concrete tower, two houses of double brick with cement render, and associated structures.
Aspinall first had to find a way to move the materials from Eden
to the site. The nearest safe anchorage was in Bittangabee Bay
, north along the coast from Green Cape, where built his storeroom and jetty. He then spent five months building a 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) wooden tramway from Bittangabee Bay to the cape. Materials were transported to the site on wooden trolleys pulled by horses. This first phase was complete in June 1881, and Aspinall commenced the construction.
Major problems were encountered when the site was found to lay on a 6 metres (19.7 ft) white clay belt, forcing the foundation to be dug to 9 metres (29.5 ft). Work stopped in June 1883 due to financial difficulties, and Aspinall's creditors completed the project, which was lit on 1 November 1883.
The original apparatus, still mounted in the lantern, is a Chance Bros. 1st order revolving Fresnel lens
dioptric. It's light characteristic was one flash every 50 seconds and it was visible to 19 nautical miles (35.2 km). The light source was a four-wick kerosene
-burning lamp with an intensity of 100,000 cd.
In 1910 the light source was replaced with a Douglas vaporised kerosene burner and a glass chimney around a silk mantle, made by Chance Bros.
In 1913 it was recommended to change the light characteristic to a white flash every 10 seconds. However, it took 16 years until this recommendation was accepted, in 1926. Previous to that, in 1923, light source was upgraded to a Ford Schmidt burner which increased the intensity of the light to 327,000 cd.
In 1962 the tower was electrified with diesel generators serving as the power source. The manual winding system was also replaced with an electric motor. The lightglove
used provided a light intensity of 475,000 cd. In 1967 improved generators were installed together with a 1000 W Tungsten-halogen lamp with an intensity of 1,000,00 cd, visible over 20 nautical miles (37 km). The light characteristic was changed to two flashes every ten seconds. At some later point the power source was changed to the mains electricity
.
In 1992 a solar power
ed lens on a modern lattice skeletal steel tower was constructed right next to the historic tower, and the light was officially turned off in 17 March 1992. The new light operates a 36 W lamp with an intensity of 37,500 cd.
In February 2011, the lighthouse was recognised as an "Engineering Heritage National Landmark" by Engineers Australia
.
.
The tower has a bluestone
gallery. A small room is attached to the western side, originally meant to be an oil store.
. The site is managed by the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water as part of the Ben Boyd National Park
.
Lighthouse
A lighthouse is a tower, building, or other type of structure designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lenses or, in older times, from a fire, and used as an aid to navigation for maritime pilots at sea or on inland waterways....
located at the tip of Green Cape
Green Cape
Green Cape is a headland or cape on the far south coast of New South Wales. It is located at 37° 15' S 150° 03' E, within Ben Boyd National Park, south of Eden, New South Wales...
, a headland
Headland
A headland is a point of land, usually high and often with a sheer drop, that extends out into a body of water.Headland can also refer to:*Headlands and bays*headLand, an Australian television series...
forming the northern boundary of Disaster Bay, in southern New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. It is the southernmost lighthouse in New South Wales and Australia's first lighthouse built in concrete
Concrete
Concrete is a composite construction material, composed of cement and other cementitious materials such as fly ash and slag cement, aggregate , water and chemical admixtures.The word concrete comes from the Latin word...
. At 29 metres (95.1 ft) it is also the second tallest lighthouse in New South Wales. It marks Green Cape on the northerly shore hugging sailing course.
History
The need for lighthouse was approved in 1873, following a series of wrecks on the southern shore. After rounding Cape HoweCape Howe
Cape Howe is a coastal headland in Australia, forming the south-eastern end of the Black-Allen Line, the border between New South Wales and Victoria.-History:...
, northerly ships would hug the shore to avoid the East Australian Current
East Australian Current
The East Australian Current is an ocean current that moves warm water in a clockwise fashion down the east coast of Australia. It is the largest ocean current close to the shores of Australia. Its source is the tropical Coral Sea off the northeast coast of Australia...
. Green Cape was the first major projection they would encounter. Original tenders were for a stone lighthouse and rubble quarters. However, with the soft local sedimentary, no one tendered. In 1870 the specifications were changed to concrete and a budget of £17,000 AUD was set.
The tower was designed by James Barnet
James Barnet
James Johnstone Barnet was the Colonial Architect for New South Wales from 1862 - 1890.-Life and career:Barnet was born at Almericlose, Arbroath, Scotland. The son of a builder, he was educated at the local high school...
in 1880 and the contract was awarded to Albert Aspinall
Albert Aspinall
Albert Wood Aspinall was an Australian stonemason and builder. He was an expert in constructing round towers and buildings.-Early life:...
who quoted £12,936 in December 1880. The tender was for the concrete tower, two houses of double brick with cement render, and associated structures.
Aspinall first had to find a way to move the materials from Eden
Eden, New South Wales
Eden is a coastal town in the South Coast region of New South Wales, Australia. The town, south of the state capital Sydney near the border with Victoria, is located between Nullica Bay to the south and Calle Calle Bay, the northern reach of Twofold Bay, and built on undulating land adjacent to a...
to the site. The nearest safe anchorage was in Bittangabee Bay
Bittangabee Bay
Bittangabee Bay is a tiny picturesque bay on the rugged and remote stretch of coastline south of Eden, New South Wales in New South Wales . The bay is located in Ben Boyd National Park, with a small camping ground and facilities maintained by...
, north along the coast from Green Cape, where built his storeroom and jetty. He then spent five months building a 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) wooden tramway from Bittangabee Bay to the cape. Materials were transported to the site on wooden trolleys pulled by horses. This first phase was complete in June 1881, and Aspinall commenced the construction.
Major problems were encountered when the site was found to lay on a 6 metres (19.7 ft) white clay belt, forcing the foundation to be dug to 9 metres (29.5 ft). Work stopped in June 1883 due to financial difficulties, and Aspinall's creditors completed the project, which was lit on 1 November 1883.
The original apparatus, still mounted in the lantern, is a Chance Bros. 1st order revolving Fresnel lens
Fresnel lens
A Fresnel lens is a type of lens originally developed by French physicist Augustin-Jean Fresnel for lighthouses.The design allows the construction of lenses of large aperture and short focal length without the mass and volume of material that would be required by a lens of conventional design...
dioptric. It's light characteristic was one flash every 50 seconds and it was visible to 19 nautical miles (35.2 km). The light source was a four-wick kerosene
Kerosene
Kerosene, sometimes spelled kerosine in scientific and industrial usage, also known as paraffin or paraffin oil in the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Ireland and South Africa, is a combustible hydrocarbon liquid. The name is derived from Greek keros...
-burning lamp with an intensity of 100,000 cd.
In 1910 the light source was replaced with a Douglas vaporised kerosene burner and a glass chimney around a silk mantle, made by Chance Bros.
In 1913 it was recommended to change the light characteristic to a white flash every 10 seconds. However, it took 16 years until this recommendation was accepted, in 1926. Previous to that, in 1923, light source was upgraded to a Ford Schmidt burner which increased the intensity of the light to 327,000 cd.
In 1962 the tower was electrified with diesel generators serving as the power source. The manual winding system was also replaced with an electric motor. The lightglove
Lamp (electrical component)
A lamp is a replaceable component such as an incandescent light bulb, which is designed to produce light from electricity. These components usually have a base of ceramic, metal, glass or plastic, which makes an electrical connection in the socket of a light fixture. This connection may be made...
used provided a light intensity of 475,000 cd. In 1967 improved generators were installed together with a 1000 W Tungsten-halogen lamp with an intensity of 1,000,00 cd, visible over 20 nautical miles (37 km). The light characteristic was changed to two flashes every ten seconds. At some later point the power source was changed to the mains electricity
Mains electricity
Mains is the general-purpose alternating current electric power supply. In the US, electric power is referred to by several names including household power, household electricity, powerline, domestic power, wall power, line power, AC power, city power, street power, and grid power...
.
In 1992 a solar power
Solar power
Solar energy, radiant light and heat from the sun, has been harnessed by humans since ancient times using a range of ever-evolving technologies. Solar radiation, along with secondary solar-powered resources such as wind and wave power, hydroelectricity and biomass, account for most of the available...
ed lens on a modern lattice skeletal steel tower was constructed right next to the historic tower, and the light was officially turned off in 17 March 1992. The new light operates a 36 W lamp with an intensity of 37,500 cd.
In February 2011, the lighthouse was recognised as an "Engineering Heritage National Landmark" by Engineers Australia
Engineers Australia
The Institution of Engineers Australia, often shortened to IEAust and trading as Engineers Australia, is a professional body and not-for-profit organisation dedicated to being the national forum for the advancement of the engineering field within Australia...
.
Structure
The original tower is built of concrete, and at the time it was the largest mass concrete structure in New South Wales. The form, octagonal on a square base, was chosen to ease the construction of the formworkFormwork
Formwork is the term given to either temporary or permanent molds into which concrete or similar materials are poured. In the context of concrete construction, the falsework supports the shuttering moulds.-Formwork and concrete form types:...
.
The tower has a bluestone
Bluestone
Bluestone is a cultural or commercial name for a number of dimension or building stone varieties, including:*a feldspathic sandstone in the U.S. and Canada;*limestone in the Shenandoah Valley in the U.S...
gallery. A small room is attached to the western side, originally meant to be an oil store.
Site operation
The current light is operated by the Australian Maritime Safety AuthorityAustralian Maritime Safety Authority
Australian Maritime Safety Authority is responsible, on behalf of the Commonwealth Government of Australia, for the regulation and safety oversight of Australia's shipping fleet and management of Australia's international maritime obligations...
. The site is managed by the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water as part of the Ben Boyd National Park
Ben Boyd National Park
Ben Boyd National Park is a national park in New South Wales, Australia, south of Sydney. It is named after the entrepreneur Ben Boyd who had a variety of interests in the far South Coast of New South Wales including whaling and farming. The park itself was established in 1971...
.
Visiting
The grounds are open to the public, and the tower is open to guided tours on some days of the week. Reservations for the guided tours are recommended. Accommodations are available in the two assistant keepers' cottages which sleep up to six people each.See also
- List of lighthouses and lightvessels in Australia
External links
- Australia’s iconic lighthouses, Australian Geographic, 26 July 2010