Kiama Light
Encyclopedia
Kiama Light, also known as Kiama Harbour Light, is an active lighthouse
in Kiama, New South Wales
, Australia
. The lighthouse is located close to the Kiama Blowhole on Blowhole Point, south of Kiama Harbour.
The light was established in 1887. The original apparatus was an oil burner with a catadioptric
fixed lens and light intensity of 600 cd. The characteristic was fixed green and it was visible for 9 nautical miles (16.7 km). Two houses were constructed, a principal lighthouse keeper
's house close to the tower, and a one-story assistant keeper's house a bit further.
In 1908 the power source was upgraded to coal gas
with an intensity of 1,500 cd and a range of 15 nautical miles (27.8 km).
A report from 1913 says that the light is unwatched and the keeper's house is empty, though officially the station was only demanned in 1920. According to records, in 1920 the light was further upgraded to acetylene gas carbide lamp
, the characteristic was changed to a group flashing and the light was automated.
The principal keeper's was destroyed by vandals soon after this, though the other cottage remained as it was the residence of the harbour pilots.
in the 1920s. The assistant keeper's house was used for many years as the pilot's cottage, and now serves as a museum and a tourist information centre.
In 1969 the light was electrified and connected to mains electricity
, with a 120V Battery
bank as backup. The current light source is a 120 V, 1000 W, quartz halogen lamp.
The building is made of bricks, cemented outside and plastered within. Ascending the tower is done by three iron ladders leading from one storey to the next. The top of the structure is surrounded by an artistic railing.
The tower is surrounded by an hexagonal fence
(formerly NSW Maritime
). The museum is managed by the Kiama Historical Society.
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....
in Kiama, 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...
. The lighthouse is located close to the Kiama Blowhole on Blowhole Point, south of Kiama Harbour.
History
Tenders for the construction of the tower were called in 1886, ten years after Robertson Basin, a man-made basic, was opened in Kiama Harbour. The tower was commissioned on the 1 January 1887. It was designed by architect Edward Moriarty.The light was established in 1887. The original apparatus was an oil burner with a catadioptric
Catadioptric
A catadioptric optical system is one where refraction and reflection are combined in an optical system, usually via lenses and curved mirrors . Catadioptric combinations are used in focusing systems such as search lights, headlamps, early lighthouse focusing systems, optical telescopes,...
fixed lens and light intensity of 600 cd. The characteristic was fixed green and it was visible for 9 nautical miles (16.7 km). Two houses were constructed, a principal lighthouse keeper
Lighthouse keeper
A lighthouse keeper is the person responsible for tending and caring for a lighthouse, particularly the light and lens in the days when oil lamps and clockwork mechanisms were used. Keepers were needed to trim the wicks, replenish fuel, wind clockworks and perform maintenance tasks such as cleaning...
's house close to the tower, and a one-story assistant keeper's house a bit further.
In 1908 the power source was upgraded to coal gas
Coal gas
Coal gas is a flammable gaseous fuel made by the destructive distillation of coal containing a variety of calorific gases including hydrogen, carbon monoxide, methane and volatile hydrocarbons together with small quantities of non-calorific gases such as carbon dioxide and nitrogen...
with an intensity of 1,500 cd and a range of 15 nautical miles (27.8 km).
A report from 1913 says that the light is unwatched and the keeper's house is empty, though officially the station was only demanned in 1920. According to records, in 1920 the light was further upgraded to acetylene gas carbide lamp
Carbide lamp
Carbide lamps, properly known as acetylene gas lamps, are simple lamps that produce and burn acetylene which is created by the reaction of calcium carbide with water....
, the characteristic was changed to a group flashing and the light was automated.
The principal keeper's was destroyed by vandals soon after this, though the other cottage remained as it was the residence of the harbour pilots.
in the 1920s. The assistant keeper's house was used for many years as the pilot's cottage, and now serves as a museum and a tourist information centre.
In 1969 the light was electrified and connected to 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...
, with a 120V Battery
Battery (electricity)
An electrical battery is one or more electrochemical cells that convert stored chemical energy into electrical energy. Since the invention of the first battery in 1800 by Alessandro Volta and especially since the technically improved Daniell cell in 1836, batteries have become a common power...
bank as backup. The current light source is a 120 V, 1000 W, quartz halogen lamp.
Structure
The foundation of the tower is a concrete slab, 14 feet (4.3 m) deep and 12 feet (3.7 m) in diameter.The building is made of bricks, cemented outside and plastered within. Ascending the tower is done by three iron ladders leading from one storey to the next. The top of the structure is surrounded by an artistic railing.
The tower is surrounded by an hexagonal fence
Site operation
The lighthouse is managed by Roads and Maritime ServicesRoads and Maritime Services
Roads and Maritime Services is an agency of the New South Wales Government responsible for building and maintaining road infrastructure and managing the day-to-day compliance and safety for roads and waterways....
(formerly NSW Maritime
NSW Maritime
NSW Maritime was an agency in the Government of New South Wales, Australia. NSW Maritime was the State Government Authority responsible for marine safety, regulation of commercial and recreational boating and oversight of port operations...
). The museum is managed by the Kiama Historical Society.