Hornby Lighthouse
Encyclopedia
Hornby Lighthouse, also known as South Head Lower Light, is an active lighthouse
located on the tip of South Head, New South Wales
, Australia
, a headland
to the north of the suburb Watsons Bay
. It marks the southern entrance to Port Jackson
and Sydney Harbour, as well as lighting the South Reef, a ledge of submerged rocks. It is the third oldest lighthouse in New South Wales.
, wrecked in August 1857, with the loss of 121 lives. The second was Catherine Adamson, two months later in October 1857, with a loss of twenty-one lives.
A committee of the Light, Pilot and Navigation Board took evidence in September 1857 and recommended the construction of a 30 feet (9.1 m) lighthouse on the inner South Head,
showing a fixed white light (F.W.), although a red light was also considered.
The lighthouse was designed by Alexander Dawson, the New South Wales Government Architect
at that time. Dawson approved the recommended location as having adequate foundations, and also reported that the government stores already had a catoptric lens apparatus available that has been purchased in 1853.
The tower construction ended in 1858, and it was the third lighthouse built in New South Wales, following Macquarie Lighthouse
in 1818 and Nobbys Head Light
in 1858. It was opened by Sir William Denison
, Governor of New South Wales, and named after the family of his wife Caroline, daughter of Admiral Sir Phipps Hornby
, though it was known as the "Lower Light", to distinguish it from Macquarie Lighthouse, the "Upper Light".
The original apparatus was a first order catoptric
lens, and the light source was a kerosene
lamp.
Also built with the lighthouse was a sandstone keeper
's cottage, also designed by Dawson. A second cottage was constructed in 1860, and two rooms were added to each of the cottages in 1877. The cottages were connected to the city water only in 1897, using stored waters until then.
In 1904 the light was upgraded to incandescent gas, In 1933 the light was electrified, and the lighthouse was automated and demanned.
In 1948 a Chance Brothers
catadioptric
lens was installed, and the light characteristic was changed to a rhythmic light.
Following the automation of the lighthouse in 1933, the lighthouse and cottages fell into disuse. With World War II
the shoreline fell under control of the Army, and remained so until 1977, housing serving married personnel. Following classification by the National Trust
in 1975, the army transferred the station to the National Parks and Wildlife Service
, which restored the cottages and instated caretakers.
The light's current characteristic is a white light showing two seconds on, three seconds off (L.Fl.W. 5s), visible for 15 nautical miles (27.8 km). The current light source is a 12 volt
55 watt
quartz halogen lamp.
and standing 30 feet (9.1 m) above the ground. It is painted with distinctive red and white vertical stripes. The sandstone was quarried locally.
On top of the tower is a non ferrous metal balcony and railing, painted white, surrounded the glass enclosed lamp.
To the west of the tower are the two Georgian style sandstone cottages, now painted, constructed from the same locally queried sandstone, and having timber verandahs and picket fences. The original slate roofing has been replaced with corrugated asbestos.
of the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water as part of the Sydney Harbour National Park
. The site is open and accessible to the public, but the tower itself is closed. It can be reached by a pleasant stroll along the South Head Heritage Trail through Sydney Harbour National Park, starting at Camp Cove.
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 the tip of South Head, 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...
, 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...
to the north of the suburb Watsons Bay
Watsons Bay, New South Wales
Watsons Bay is a harbourside, eastern suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Watsons Bay is located 11 km north-east of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the Municipality of Woollahra....
. It marks the southern entrance to Port Jackson
Port Jackson
Port Jackson, containing Sydney Harbour, is the natural harbour of Sydney, Australia. It is known for its beauty, and in particular, as the location of the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge...
and Sydney Harbour, as well as lighting the South Reef, a ledge of submerged rocks. It is the third oldest lighthouse in New South Wales.
History
The need for a lighthouse at the entrance of Jackson Bay was made evident by the loss of two ships. First was the DunbarDunbar (shipwreck)
The Dunbar was a full-rigged ship that was wrecked near the entrance to Sydney Harbour, Australia in 1857 with the loss of 121 lives.The Dunbar was launched on 30 November 1853 for London shipowner Duncan Dunbar and entered the passenger and cargo trade between London and Sydney early the following...
, wrecked in August 1857, with the loss of 121 lives. The second was Catherine Adamson, two months later in October 1857, with a loss of twenty-one lives.
A committee of the Light, Pilot and Navigation Board took evidence in September 1857 and recommended the construction of a 30 feet (9.1 m) lighthouse on the inner South Head,
showing a fixed white light (F.W.), although a red light was also considered.
The lighthouse was designed by Alexander Dawson, the New South Wales Government Architect
New South Wales Government Architect
The New South Wales Government Architect is an officer of the New South Wales government. Historically, the government architect was in charge of the state government's public building projects....
at that time. Dawson approved the recommended location as having adequate foundations, and also reported that the government stores already had a catoptric lens apparatus available that has been purchased in 1853.
The tower construction ended in 1858, and it was the third lighthouse built in New South Wales, following Macquarie Lighthouse
Macquarie Lighthouse
The Macquarie Lighthouse, also known as South Head Upper Light, was the first, and is the longest serving, lighthouse site in Australia. It is located on Dunbar Head, Vaucluse near the entrance to Sydney Harbour. There has been a navigational aid in this vicinity since 1791 and a lighthouse near...
in 1818 and Nobbys Head Light
Nobbys Head Light
Nobbys Head Light is an active lighthouse on Nobbys Head, a headland on the south side of the entrance to Newcastle Harbour, New South Wales, Australia. It is included in Newcastle's Coat of Arms....
in 1858. It was opened by Sir William Denison
William Denison
Sir William Thomas Denison, KCB was Lieutenant Governor of Van Diemen's Land from 1847 to 1855, Governor of New South Wales from 20 January 1855 to 22 January 1861, and Governor of Madras from 1861 to 1866....
, Governor of New South Wales, and named after the family of his wife Caroline, daughter of Admiral Sir Phipps Hornby
Phipps Hornby
Admiral Sir Phipps Hornby, GCB was a prominent and experienced British Royal Navy officer of the nineteenth century. Hornby served on frigates throughout most of his wartime experience, which included witnessing the Nore Mutiny first hand aged 12 in 1797...
, though it was known as the "Lower Light", to distinguish it from Macquarie Lighthouse, the "Upper Light".
The original apparatus was a first order catoptric
Catoptrics
Catoptrics deals with the phenomena of reflected light and image-forming optical systems using mirrors. From the Greek κατοπτρικός ....
lens, and the light source was a 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...
lamp.
Also built with the lighthouse was a sandstone 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 cottage, also designed by Dawson. A second cottage was constructed in 1860, and two rooms were added to each of the cottages in 1877. The cottages were connected to the city water only in 1897, using stored waters until then.
In 1904 the light was upgraded to incandescent gas, In 1933 the light was electrified, and the lighthouse was automated and demanned.
In 1948 a 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....
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,...
lens was installed, and the light characteristic was changed to a rhythmic light.
Following the automation of the lighthouse in 1933, the lighthouse and cottages fell into disuse. With World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
the shoreline fell under control of the Army, and remained so until 1977, housing serving married personnel. Following classification by the National Trust
National Trust of Australia
The Australian Council of National Trusts is the peak body for community-based, non-government organisations committed to promoting and conserving Australia's indigenous, natural and historic heritage....
in 1975, the army transferred the station to the National Parks and Wildlife Service
National Parks and Wildlife Service (New South Wales)
The National Parks and Wildlife Service is part of the Office of Environment and Heritage - the main government conservation agency in New South Wales, Australia....
, which restored the cottages and instated caretakers.
The light's current characteristic is a white light showing two seconds on, three seconds off (L.Fl.W. 5s), visible for 15 nautical miles (27.8 km). The current 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...
55 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:...
quartz halogen lamp.
Structures
The lighthouse is a tapered circular structure, built of curved dressed sandstoneSandstone
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized minerals or rock grains.Most sandstone is composed of quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth's crust. Like sand, sandstone may be any colour, but the most common colours are tan, brown, yellow,...
and standing 30 feet (9.1 m) above the ground. It is painted with distinctive red and white vertical stripes. The sandstone was quarried locally.
On top of the tower is a non ferrous metal balcony and railing, painted white, surrounded the glass enclosed lamp.
To the west of the tower are the two Georgian style sandstone cottages, now painted, constructed from the same locally queried sandstone, and having timber verandahs and picket fences. The original slate roofing has been replaced with corrugated asbestos.
Site operation
The light is operated by the Sydney Ports Corporation, while the site is managed by the National Parks and Wildlife ServiceNational Parks and Wildlife Service (New South Wales)
The National Parks and Wildlife Service is part of the Office of Environment and Heritage - the main government conservation agency in New South Wales, Australia....
of the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water as part of the Sydney Harbour National Park
Sydney Harbour National Park
thumb|right|250px|[[Nielsen Park]]Sydney Harbour National Park is a national park comprising parts of Sydney Harbour, its foreshores and various islands. The park lies within the Sydney metropolitan area and was created in piecemeal fashion during the 20th century...
. The site is open and accessible to the public, but the tower itself is closed. It can be reached by a pleasant stroll along the South Head Heritage Trail through Sydney Harbour National Park, starting at Camp Cove.
See also
- List of lighthouses and lightvessels in Australia