Point Charles Light
Encyclopedia
Point Charles Light, also known as Charles Point Light, is an active lighthouse
located on a headland
at the northern end of the Cox Peninsula
, 21 kilometres (13 mi) northwest of Port Darwin, Northern Territory
, Australia
. Established in 1893, it is the oldest lighthouse in the Northern Territory.
in 1891. The contents were shipped aboard the SS Inaminka to Port Darwin, and after a short period by the SS Airie to Point Charles, where construction began in 1892. Though the construction was to be finished before 8 September 1892, the rusty condition of the lighthouse when it was unpacked caused a delay, and the lighthouse was officially opened on 1 February 1893 by Charles James Dashwood, the Administrator of the Northern Territory
of the day.
The 92 feet (28 m) tower was constructed of wrought iron
, and consisted of a central tube almost 2 metres (6.6 ft) in diameter, with struts and braces. A spiral staircase
inside the tube leads to the lantern room on top of the gallery. The lantern housed a revolving 1st order dioptric lens, and the original light source was a vapourised kerosene
burner, producing a light intensity of 100,000 cd
. The burners were replaced by "Trinity" burners in 1894 due to an insect problem. The light characteristic was one white flash every 30 seconds, with red and green sectors (Fl.W.R.G. 30s). The focal height was 36 metres (118.1 ft), and the light was visible for 17 nautical miles (31.5 km), including from Darwin
.
Several galvanised iron lighthouse keeper
s' cottages were also constructed, with wooden floors and verandahs.
In 1932, a decision was made to change the light source to acetylene gas (carbide lamp
) and automate the lighthouse. The lighthouse was automated and demanned in 1933, and continued to work automatically until 1971. In 1965, Radio Australia
installed tall transmission masts at the area with powerful lamps atop them. These were visible for 22 nautical miles (40.7 km) and made the lighthouse obsolete. In 1971 the light was extinguished and the tower became a day marker. However, this was not to stay for long. On Christmas Eve
1974, Cyclone Tracy
devastated the area, causing extensive damage to the Radio Australia masts. The Lighthouse survived almost intact, and within a month, a small low-powered lamp had been installed, operating on batteries.
In May 1982 standby diesel powered alternator
s were installed. In July 1982 the tower was finally fully electrified, and a powerful 1,000,000 cd lamp was installed. This was later replaced by a much lower power, but also lower cost, solar power
ed light.
The current light source is a solar powered 12 volt
Halogen Lamp
, with an intensity of 37,000 cd. The light characteristic shown is a white flash every five seconds (Fl.W. 5s). The light is visible for 17 nautical miles (31.5 km)
facility was closed in July 1997. Since then, the facility is leased by the Department of Finance and Administration
to the Christian Voice Broadcasting Service (CVC), which fenced the area in 2003 and prevented public access to the site. However, CVC's lease expired in June 2010, and , road access to the lighthouse is available via existing agreements with the indigenous land holders.
The light is operated by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority
, which accesses the site by helicopter.
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 on 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...
at the northern end of the Cox Peninsula
Cox Peninsula
The Wagait Shire, before 1 July 2008 Cox Peninsula Community Government Council, is a Local Government Area in the Northern Territory. The council was established 28 April 1995. It is located west of Darwin, Northern Territory, as a 15 minute ferry ride, or a 138km Drive on fully sealed roads.The...
, 21 kilometres (13 mi) northwest of Port Darwin, Northern Territory
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory is a federal territory of Australia, occupying much of the centre of the mainland continent, as well as the central northern regions...
, 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...
. Established in 1893, it is the oldest lighthouse in the Northern Territory.
History
Many ships were wrecked in the approach to Port Darwin in the 1880s, and the Marine Board recommended in 1888 that lights should be erected at Capes Fourcroy and Don and Points Emery and Charles. Funds for the Point Charles and Point Emery lights were raised by a loan, and the contract for the Point Charles light went to Chance Bros of Birmingham, England who packed the lighthouse in crates and shipped it to AdelaideAdelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
in 1891. The contents were shipped aboard the SS Inaminka to Port Darwin, and after a short period by the SS Airie to Point Charles, where construction began in 1892. Though the construction was to be finished before 8 September 1892, the rusty condition of the lighthouse when it was unpacked caused a delay, and the lighthouse was officially opened on 1 February 1893 by Charles James Dashwood, the Administrator of the Northern Territory
Administrator of the Northern Territory
The Administrator of the Northern Territory is an official appointed by the Governor-General of Australia to exercise powers analogous to that of a state governor...
of the day.
The 92 feet (28 m) tower was constructed of wrought iron
Wrought iron
thumb|The [[Eiffel tower]] is constructed from [[puddle iron]], a form of wrought ironWrought iron is an iron alloy with a very low carbon...
, and consisted of a central tube almost 2 metres (6.6 ft) in diameter, with struts and braces. A spiral staircase
Spiral staircase
Spiral staircase may refer to:* A type of stairway characterized by its spiral shape* The Spiral Staircase , a 1946 American psychological thriller film* The Spiral Staircase , a 1975 British film, a remake of the 1946 film...
inside the tube leads to the lantern room on top of the gallery. The lantern housed a revolving 1st order dioptric lens, and the original light source was a vapourised 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...
burner, producing a light intensity of 100,000 cd
Candela
The candela is the SI base unit of luminous intensity; that is, power emitted by a light source in a particular direction, weighted by the luminosity function . A common candle emits light with a luminous intensity of roughly one candela...
. The burners were replaced by "Trinity" burners in 1894 due to an insect problem. The light characteristic was one white flash every 30 seconds, with red and green sectors (Fl.W.R.G. 30s). The focal height was 36 metres (118.1 ft), and the light was visible for 17 nautical miles (31.5 km), including from Darwin
Darwin, Northern Territory
Darwin is the capital city of the Northern Territory, Australia. Situated on the Timor Sea, Darwin has a population of 127,500, making it by far the largest and most populated city in the sparsely populated Northern Territory, but the least populous of all Australia's capital cities...
.
Several galvanised iron 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' cottages were also constructed, with wooden floors and verandahs.
In 1932, a decision was made to change the light source 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....
) and automate the lighthouse. The lighthouse was automated and demanned in 1933, and continued to work automatically until 1971. In 1965, Radio Australia
Radio Australia
Radio Australia is the international broadcasting and online service operated by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation , Australia's public broadcaster.- History :...
installed tall transmission masts at the area with powerful lamps atop them. These were visible for 22 nautical miles (40.7 km) and made the lighthouse obsolete. In 1971 the light was extinguished and the tower became a day marker. However, this was not to stay for long. On Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve refers to the evening or entire day preceding Christmas Day, a widely celebrated festival commemorating the birth of Jesus of Nazareth that takes place on December 25...
1974, Cyclone Tracy
Cyclone Tracy
Cyclone Tracy was a tropical cyclone that devastated the city of Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia, from Christmas Eve to Christmas Day, 1974...
devastated the area, causing extensive damage to the Radio Australia masts. The Lighthouse survived almost intact, and within a month, a small low-powered lamp had been installed, operating on batteries.
In May 1982 standby diesel powered alternator
Alternator
An alternator is an electromechanical device that converts mechanical energy to electrical energy in the form of alternating current.Most alternators use a rotating magnetic field but linear alternators are occasionally used...
s were installed. In July 1982 the tower was finally fully electrified, and a powerful 1,000,000 cd lamp was installed. This was later replaced by a much lower power, but also lower cost, 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 light.
The current light source is a solar powered 12 volt
Volt
The volt is the SI derived unit for electric potential, electric potential difference, and electromotive force. The volt is named in honor of the Italian physicist Alessandro Volta , who invented the voltaic pile, possibly the first chemical battery.- Definition :A single volt is defined as the...
Halogen Lamp
Halogen lamp
A halogen lamp, also known as a tungsten halogen lamp, is an incandescent lamp with a tungsten filament contained within an inert gas and a small amount of a halogen such as iodine or bromine. The chemical halogen cycle redeposits evaporated tungsten back on to the filament, extending the life of...
, with an intensity of 37,000 cd. The light characteristic shown is a white flash every five seconds (Fl.W. 5s). The light is visible for 17 nautical miles (31.5 km)
Access and operation
The Radio AustraliaRadio Australia
Radio Australia is the international broadcasting and online service operated by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation , Australia's public broadcaster.- History :...
facility was closed in July 1997. Since then, the facility is leased by the Department of Finance and Administration
Department of Finance and Administration (Australia)
The Department of Finance and Deregulation is an Australian Government department. Its role is to help the Australian Government achieve its policy objectives by contributing to four key outcomes:* sustainable Government finances....
to the Christian Voice Broadcasting Service (CVC), which fenced the area in 2003 and prevented public access to the site. However, CVC's lease expired in June 2010, and , road access to the lighthouse is available via existing agreements with the indigenous land holders.
The light is operated by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority
Australian 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...
, which accesses the site by helicopter.