Double Island Point Light
Encyclopedia
Double Island Point Light is an active lighthouse
located at the summit of Double Island Point
, a coastal headland within the Cooloola section of the Great Sandy National Park
. It is located at the southern end of Wide Bay, 70 kilometres (43.5 mi) north of Noosa Heads, Queensland
, Australia
.
Though the location was indicated for a lighthouse in 1864, it was only constructed in 1884, by W. P. Clark, who constructed other Queensland lighthouses. Upgrades to the kerosene
fueled light and the lens occurred in 1923 and 1925. A major reconstruction occurred in 1933 when the light was converted to 110 V electricity, significantly increasing its luminosity, and new cottages replaced the originals. In 1980 the light was converted to 240 V and finally, solar conversion took place in 1991. Double Island Point Light became automatic the following year.
The lighthouse is typical for Queensland, made of timber frame clad
with galvanized iron plates, painted white with a red dome. It is surmounted by an original Chance Brothers
lantern with a modern VRB-25
self-contained rotating beacon mounted inside. It is surrounded by several auxiliary structures. The two lighthouse keepers' cottages, hardwood framed and sheeted with asbestos cement, are at a lower level, with a few other buildings. The site is positioned in the Great Sandy National Park, but there is no public access to the lighthouse.
In 1881 or 1882 Heath made a report to the Parliament stating the need for the lighthouse. In 1883 he made a visit to the island and realised that the original planned location, halfway up the point, would result in a light that would not be visible to the north. He advised that the lighthouse will be constructed at the summit of the point, with a 3rd Order light, a more powerful light than originally planned, and advise which was accepted. Plans were made by the Queensland Colonial Architect's Office, and at the end of June 1883 tenders were called, for the construction of the lighthouse and lighthouse keeper
cottages, for both Double Island Point Light and c. The contract for both lightstations, for the cost of £6900, was awarded to W. P. Clark, who already constructed Queensland's first lighthouse since Queensland's formation, Bustard Head Light
(in 1868), and who was also awarded the contract for Low Isles Light
in 1877 and for Cape Cleveland Light
and Dent Island Light
in 1878.
The lighthouse was first exhibited on 11 September 1884, the eighteenth to be constructed by the Queensland Government. The original lamp was an oil wick burner with an intensity of 13,000 cd
. It was fixed, with revolving panels. Three lighthouse keeper cottages were also constructed, originally located near the lighthouse. A schoolhouse was also established at the point at the same time, which was active until 1922.
In 1923, the light was converted to a 55 millimetres (2.2 in) incandescent gas mantle fueled by vapourised kerosene
, with an intensity of 100,000 cd. A further upgrade in 1925 replaced the lens with a third order 500 millimetres (19.7 in) focal length
revolving apparatus floating in a mercury
bath. In 1933 the light was converted to 110V electricity, the lamp having an intensity of 750,000 cd. The original cottages were demolished and two modern cottages were constructed, further down the hill than the original ones, at the old location of the schoolhouse, at the crest of the ridge. A new watch hut was also constructed at that time.
In 1961 the radio was moved from the lighthouse area to a radio hut which was constructed near the cottages. This radio hut now serves as a weather hut. In 1980 a new power house was constructed, holding two diesel engine
s, and bulk fuel tanks were installed. At that time the light was converted to 240V AC
and the light source was a 120V 1000W tungsten halogen lamp with an intensity of 1,000,000 cd, visible for 26 nautical miles (48.2 km).
The light was finally converted to a solar power
ed VRB-25
on 9 October 1991, at which point the third order optic apparatus and the lamp were removed. This reduced the strength of the light considerably, to 48,430 cd, resulting in a reduction of the range of visibility to 17 nautical miles (31.5 km). The station was fully automated, and staff removed, in 1992.
The apparatus is a VRB-25 rotating at 1.33 rpm. The light source is a 12 Volt
35 Watt
Halogen lamp
with an intensity of 48,430 cd.
retaining wall
s to the east of the tower, which create a level area. It includes the tower, a watch hut, a powerhouse and a tank farm. There are also trees including two hoop pines, grass and flowering plants. Installed in this area are also an anemometer
and some radio antennas
.
The tower is 8 metres (26.2 ft) from the base to the lantern, conical in shape. It is built of an internal timber frame, clad
with galvanized iron plates, about 2 millimetre (0.078740157480315 in) thick, and painted white. The base and the ground floor are of mass concrete
. On top of the tower is a round reinforced concrete
balcony, supporting the lantern, an original Chance Brothers
8 foot diameter, made of cast and wrought iron
. A VRB-25 lantern is mounted inside the lantern on the original mercury float pedestal, but with the mercury removed. The lantern us surmounted by a with a copper
cupola, painted red.
The 1933 watch hut is hardwood framed, clad with asbestos cement. It is built on a concrete base and has a corrugated asbestos cement roof. The 1980 powerhouse is a cavity wall
ed brick
structure, with a reinforced concrete floor and a ring beam. It houses two diesel engines. The 1980 bulk tank farm uses a number of small tanks.
.
The cottages are hardwood framed and sheeted with asbestos cement. The hardwood floor is constructed on raised concrete stumps and the roofs are of corrugated steel. rainwater tank
s are installed next to the cottages. The 1961 weather shack, which mainly acts as an office for recording weather observations, is timber framed, clad with asbestos cement, with a concrete floor and corrugated asbestos cement roof. The flag pole is a 75 millimetres (3 in) diameter glavanised steel tube set in concrete, with hardwood beams and stainless steel stay
s. The garage is a made of brick with concrete floor and timber framed aluminium sheet roof. The keepers' vehicles are sheltered at an attached carport with concrete floor, galvanised steel tube columns and a roof of hardwood framed corrugated asbestos cement. The workshop is a prefabricated galvanised steel frame structure, clad with aluminium sheeting and a concrete floor.
South of the cottages is a the grave of Fanny Byrn, wife of George Byrne who was the head light keeper from February 1886 until July 1900. It is surrounded by a picket fence and marked with a marble headstone.
. The site is owned and operated by the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service
as part of the Great Sandy National Park. The site is accessible by four wheel drive
from Rainbow Beach
, but the tower is closed to the public.
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 summit of Double Island Point
Double Island Point
Double Island Point is a coastal headland in Queensland, Australia. It's the next headland north of Noosa and is within the Cooloola section of the Great Sandy National Park, at the southern end of Wide Bay....
, a coastal headland within the Cooloola section of the Great Sandy National Park
Great Sandy National Park
Great Sandy is a coastal national park and suburb in Queensland, Australia. The park features untouched beaches, large sand dunes, heathlands, rainforests, swamps, creeks, freshwater lakes and mangrove forests....
. It is located at the southern end of Wide Bay, 70 kilometres (43.5 mi) north of Noosa Heads, Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
, 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...
.
Though the location was indicated for a lighthouse in 1864, it was only constructed in 1884, by W. P. Clark, who constructed other Queensland lighthouses. Upgrades to the 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...
fueled light and the lens occurred in 1923 and 1925. A major reconstruction occurred in 1933 when the light was converted to 110 V electricity, significantly increasing its luminosity, and new cottages replaced the originals. In 1980 the light was converted to 240 V and finally, solar conversion took place in 1991. Double Island Point Light became automatic the following year.
The lighthouse is typical for Queensland, made of timber frame clad
Cladding (construction)
Cladding is the application of one material over another to provide a skin or layer intended to control the infiltration of weather elements, or for aesthetic purposes....
with galvanized iron plates, painted white with a red dome. It is surmounted by an original Chance Brothers
Chance Brothers
Chance Brothers and Company was a glassworks originally based in Spon Lane, Smethwick, West Midlands , in England. It was a leading glass manufacturer and a pioneer of British glassmaking technology....
lantern with a modern VRB-25
VRB-25
The VRB-25 is a lighthouse optical system designed and built by Vega Industries Ltd. in Porirua, New Zealand. It was originally designed in 1993-95 with the assistance of the United States Coast Guard to meet USCG requirements for a robust mechanism requiring minimum maintenance. It has become the...
self-contained rotating beacon mounted inside. It is surrounded by several auxiliary structures. The two lighthouse keepers' cottages, hardwood framed and sheeted with asbestos cement, are at a lower level, with a few other buildings. The site is positioned in the Great Sandy National Park, but there is no public access to the lighthouse.
History
The colony of Queensland was formed in 1859. In 1862, the Queensland government appointed the first Portmaster, Commander George Poynter Heath. However, it was only in 1864 that two committees were appointed to deal with the issue of coastal lighthouses. One of the locations indicated by these committees as a possible suitable site was Double Island Point. However, it was to take almost two decades until the Queensland Government took action upon this recommendation.In 1881 or 1882 Heath made a report to the Parliament stating the need for the lighthouse. In 1883 he made a visit to the island and realised that the original planned location, halfway up the point, would result in a light that would not be visible to the north. He advised that the lighthouse will be constructed at the summit of the point, with a 3rd Order light, a more powerful light than originally planned, and advise which was accepted. Plans were made by the Queensland Colonial Architect's Office, and at the end of June 1883 tenders were called, for the construction of the lighthouse and 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...
cottages, for both Double Island Point Light and c. The contract for both lightstations, for the cost of £6900, was awarded to W. P. Clark, who already constructed Queensland's first lighthouse since Queensland's formation, Bustard Head Light
Bustard Head Light
Bustard Head Light is an active lighthouse located on the southeast tip of Bustard Head, a headland, about northwest of 1770, Queensland, Australia, within the Eurimbula National Park. Built in 1868, it is the second oldest lightstation in Queensland, following Cape Moreton Light, and the first to...
(in 1868), and who was also awarded the contract for Low Isles Light
Low Isles Light
Low Isles Light, also known as Low Islets Light or Low Island Light, is an active lighthouse located on Low Island, a coral cay which together with Woody Island forms the Low Isles group, about northeast of Port Douglas, Queensland, Australia...
in 1877 and for Cape Cleveland Light
Cape Cleveland Light
Cape Cleveland Light is an active lighthouse located on the northern tip of Cape Cleveland, a promontory projecting into the Coral Sea west of Cleveland Bay and about east of Townsville, Queensland, Australia...
and Dent Island Light
Dent Island Light
Dent Island Light is an active lighthouse located on Dent Island, a small island off the coast of Queensland, Australia. Dent Island is part of the Whitsunday Group of the Whitsunday Islands...
in 1878.
The lighthouse was first exhibited on 11 September 1884, the eighteenth to be constructed by the Queensland Government. The original lamp was an oil wick burner with an intensity of 13,000 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...
. It was fixed, with revolving panels. Three lighthouse keeper cottages were also constructed, originally located near the lighthouse. A schoolhouse was also established at the point at the same time, which was active until 1922.
In 1923, the light was converted to a 55 millimetres (2.2 in) incandescent gas mantle fueled by 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...
, with an intensity of 100,000 cd. A further upgrade in 1925 replaced the lens with a third order 500 millimetres (19.7 in) focal length
Focal length
The focal length of an optical system is a measure of how strongly the system converges or diverges light. For an optical system in air, it is the distance over which initially collimated rays are brought to a focus...
revolving apparatus floating in a mercury
Mercury (element)
Mercury is a chemical element with the symbol Hg and atomic number 80. It is also known as quicksilver or hydrargyrum...
bath. In 1933 the light was converted to 110V electricity, the lamp having an intensity of 750,000 cd. The original cottages were demolished and two modern cottages were constructed, further down the hill than the original ones, at the old location of the schoolhouse, at the crest of the ridge. A new watch hut was also constructed at that time.
In 1961 the radio was moved from the lighthouse area to a radio hut which was constructed near the cottages. This radio hut now serves as a weather hut. In 1980 a new power house was constructed, holding two diesel engine
Diesel engine
A diesel engine is an internal combustion engine that uses the heat of compression to initiate ignition to burn the fuel, which is injected into the combustion chamber...
s, and bulk fuel tanks were installed. At that time the light was converted to 240V AC
Alternating current
In alternating current the movement of electric charge periodically reverses direction. In direct current , the flow of electric charge is only in one direction....
and the light source was a 120V 1000W tungsten halogen lamp with an intensity of 1,000,000 cd, visible for 26 nautical miles (48.2 km).
The light was finally converted to 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 VRB-25
VRB-25
The VRB-25 is a lighthouse optical system designed and built by Vega Industries Ltd. in Porirua, New Zealand. It was originally designed in 1993-95 with the assistance of the United States Coast Guard to meet USCG requirements for a robust mechanism requiring minimum maintenance. It has become the...
on 9 October 1991, at which point the third order optic apparatus and the lamp were removed. This reduced the strength of the light considerably, to 48,430 cd, resulting in a reduction of the range of visibility to 17 nautical miles (31.5 km). The station was fully automated, and staff removed, in 1992.
Current display
The current light characteristic is a white flash every 7.5 seconds (Fl.W. 7.5s) visible at 109°-037°, for a distance of 17 nautical miles (31.5 km).The apparatus is a VRB-25 rotating at 1.33 rpm. The light source is a 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...
35 Watt
Watt
The watt is a derived unit of power in the International System of Units , named after the Scottish engineer James Watt . The unit, defined as one joule per second, measures the rate of energy conversion.-Definition:...
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 48,430 cd.
Structures
The structures at the station are divided into two clusters, one around the lighthouse and the other near the cottages.Lighthouse cluster
The lighthouse cluster includes low dry stoneDry stone
Dry stone is a building method by which structures are constructed from stones without any mortar to bind them together. Dry stone structures are stable because of their unique construction method, which is characterized by the presence of a load-bearing facade of carefully selected interlocking...
retaining wall
Retaining wall
Retaining walls are built in order to hold back earth which would otherwise move downwards. Their purpose is to stabilize slopes and provide useful areas at different elevations, e.g...
s to the east of the tower, which create a level area. It includes the tower, a watch hut, a powerhouse and a tank farm. There are also trees including two hoop pines, grass and flowering plants. Installed in this area are also an anemometer
Anemometer
An anemometer is a device for measuring wind speed, and is a common weather station instrument. The term is derived from the Greek word anemos, meaning wind, and is used to describe any airspeed measurement instrument used in meteorology or aerodynamics...
and some radio antennas
Antenna (radio)
An antenna is an electrical device which converts electric currents into radio waves, and vice versa. It is usually used with a radio transmitter or radio receiver...
.
The tower is 8 metres (26.2 ft) from the base to the lantern, conical in shape. It is built of an internal timber frame, clad
Cladding (construction)
Cladding is the application of one material over another to provide a skin or layer intended to control the infiltration of weather elements, or for aesthetic purposes....
with galvanized iron plates, about 2 millimetre (0.078740157480315 in) thick, and painted white. The base and the ground floor are of mass 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...
. On top of the tower is a round reinforced concrete
Reinforced concrete
Reinforced concrete is concrete in which reinforcement bars , reinforcement grids, plates or fibers have been incorporated to strengthen the concrete in tension. It was invented by French gardener Joseph Monier in 1849 and patented in 1867. The term Ferro Concrete refers only to concrete that is...
balcony, supporting the lantern, an original Chance Brothers
Chance Brothers
Chance Brothers and Company was a glassworks originally based in Spon Lane, Smethwick, West Midlands , in England. It was a leading glass manufacturer and a pioneer of British glassmaking technology....
8 foot diameter, made of cast and 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...
. A VRB-25 lantern is mounted inside the lantern on the original mercury float pedestal, but with the mercury removed. The lantern us surmounted by a with a copper
Copper
Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu and atomic number 29. It is a ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. Pure copper is soft and malleable; an exposed surface has a reddish-orange tarnish...
cupola, painted red.
The 1933 watch hut is hardwood framed, clad with asbestos cement. It is built on a concrete base and has a corrugated asbestos cement roof. The 1980 powerhouse is a cavity wall
Cavity wall
Cavity walls consist of two 'skins' separated by a hollow space . The skins are commonly masonry such as brick or concrete block. Masonry is an absorbent material, and therefore will slowly draw rainwater or even humidity into the wall. The cavity serves as a way to drain this water back out...
ed brick
Brick
A brick is a block of ceramic material used in masonry construction, usually laid using various kinds of mortar. It has been regarded as one of the longest lasting and strongest building materials used throughout history.-History:...
structure, with a reinforced concrete floor and a ring beam. It houses two diesel engines. The 1980 bulk tank farm uses a number of small tanks.
Cottage cluster
The cottage cluster includes the two 1933 cottages, one for the head lightkeeper and one for his assistant, a weather shack, a garage, a workshop/store, service pits, a flag pole, and a Stevenson screenStevenson screen
A Stevenson screen or instrument shelter is an enclosure to shield meteorological instruments against precipitation and direct heat radiation from outside sources, while still allowing air to circulate freely around them. It forms part of a standard weather station...
.
The cottages are hardwood framed and sheeted with asbestos cement. The hardwood floor is constructed on raised concrete stumps and the roofs are of corrugated steel. rainwater tank
Rainwater tank
A rainwater tank is a water tank used to collect and store rain water runoff, typically from rooftops via rain gutters...
s are installed next to the cottages. The 1961 weather shack, which mainly acts as an office for recording weather observations, is timber framed, clad with asbestos cement, with a concrete floor and corrugated asbestos cement roof. The flag pole is a 75 millimetres (3 in) diameter glavanised steel tube set in concrete, with hardwood beams and stainless steel stay
Guy-wire
A guy-wire or guy-rope, also known as simply a guy, is a tensioned cable designed to add stability to structures . One end of the cable is attached to the structure, and the other is anchored to the ground at a distance from the structure's base...
s. The garage is a made of brick with concrete floor and timber framed aluminium sheet roof. The keepers' vehicles are sheltered at an attached carport with concrete floor, galvanised steel tube columns and a roof of hardwood framed corrugated asbestos cement. The workshop is a prefabricated galvanised steel frame structure, clad with aluminium sheeting and a concrete floor.
South of the cottages is a the grave of Fanny Byrn, wife of George Byrne who was the head light keeper from February 1886 until July 1900. It is surrounded by a picket fence and marked with a marble headstone.
Site operation and visiting
The 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 owned and operated by the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service
Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service
The Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, or QPWS, is a sub-section of the Environmental Protection Agency within the Queensland government. Its primary concern is with the development and maintenance of national parks within Queensland.-External links:*...
as part of the Great Sandy National Park. The site is accessible by four wheel drive
Four Wheel Drive
The Four Wheel Drive Auto Company, more often known as Four Wheel Drive or just FWD, was founded in 1909 in Clintonville, Wisconsin, as the Badger Four-Wheel Drive Auto Company by Otto Zachow and William Besserdich.-History:...
from Rainbow Beach
Rainbow Beach, Queensland
Rainbow Beach is a coastal town in south-eastern Queensland, Australia, east of Gympie. At the 2006 census, Rainbow Beach had a population of 999...
, but the tower is closed to the public.