Point Perpendicular Light
Encyclopedia
Point Perpendicular Light is a lighthouse
located on Point Perpendicular
, a point at the southern tip of the Beecroft Peninsula
, in New South Wales
, Australia
. It marks and the northern entrance to Jervis Bay
. The historic lighthouse was active from 1889 to 1993 and is still present, though its future is unclear. It is believed to be the first lighthouse in New South Wales which was built of precast concrete blocks. The light was replaced in 1993 with a skeletal tower which is active.
or Crocodile Head. Point Perpendicular was chosen in September 1883 by Colonial Architect James Barnet
and Captain Francis Hixson of the Marine Board.
The plans for the lighthouse were signed on 18 March 1897. The lighthouse was designed by James Barnet
's successor, Charles Assinder Harding, who also later designed Cape Byron Light
and Norah Head Light
, in a style similar to Barnet's.
Tenders were called on 15 April 1897, and by September 1897 construction has started. Most of the materials were landed at Bindijine Wharf, about 5 miles (8 km) northwest, which was constructed in 1898. Horse and cart were then used to transport them to the site.
The light was first lit on 1 May 1899. The original light source was a vaporized kerosene lamp with an intensity of 100,000 cd and a visible range of around 33 kilometres (20.5 mi). The apparatus installed was a massive Chance Bros. 920 millimetres (36.2 in) three faceted 1st order Fresnel lens
, weighing 33 tonnes (32.5 LT), and the original light characteristic was a white flash every 20 seconds (Fl W 20s). The lens are still installed in the lighthouse.
In 1909 the light source was first upgraded, to an intensity of 222,000 cd. It was further upgraded in 1923, to an intensity of 316,000 cd.
In 1964 the light was electrified, 2 diesel engine
s serving as the power source.
On 5 July 1993 the light was shut down and replaced with a fully automated, solar power
ed lamp on top of a lattice skeletal tower. At that time the light was a 120 V, 1000 W quartz halogen lamp, visible to a range of 26 nautical miles (48.2 km) and the light characteristic was a group of three white flashes every twenty seconds (Gr(3) W 20s).
The future of the lighthouse is unclear. Though it was agreed upon that access to the historic lighthouse would continue, the Department of Defence
, the agency governing the site, originally fenced it and access was limited. It is unclear what the exact restrictions are at this point. The structures on the location were put on sale, and the outcome of this is also unclear.
The last keeper was John Hampson.
The first occasion was the lighthouse centenary, which was on 1 May 1999, though celebrations were postponed until October 1999 to be incorporated in the Currarong Seafare Festival. Celebrations included a ball and an art and photography competition on 15 October 1999. This was followed by on-site celebrations on 16 October, including tours, a naval display, a market day, children's activities and finally, the lighthouse was lit. The light remained lit between 6pm (which was the time of dusk, the light was set to switch itself automatically) and 11pm. The new light was shut down for the period.
The light was re-lit once more on 20–21 August 2005 for the International Lighthouse & Lightship Weekend 2005.
s or scaffolding
. The block varied in size and shape, but were mostly 12 inches (30.5 cm) high.
The tower is circular, with an internal diameter of 11 in 9 in (3.58 m). It is 44 feet (13.4 m) to the balcony, divided into three stories by concrete floors paved with black and white tiles, staircases 3 foot (0.9144 m) wide leading from one floor to the next, with a handrail of 2 inches (5.1 cm) heavy brass tubing. On top of the tower is a bluestone
gallery and balcony with black railings.
The tower is painted white with a blue trim on the bottom.
Above the main door there is a glass window displaying a Waratah
, the state flower of New South Wales, and the construction date.
The tower is attached to a one-story lighthouse keeper
's house made from the same concrete blocks, painted likewise white with a blue trim on the bottom.
The keepers' residences are located about 70 feet (21.3 m) south of the lighthouse. Originally each had an underground water tank of 6500 gallons (29,549.6 l), kept filled by rain from the roofs.
Also present is a structure originally serving as a two-stall stable and coach house, which was later used to house the generators.
. The site is operated by the Department of Defence
, and used for gunnery practice about 100 days a year, in which access is limited.
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 Point Perpendicular
Point Perpendicular
Point Perpendicular is a point at the southern tip of the Beecroft Peninsula and at the northern entry to Jervis Bay, in New South Wales, Australia...
, a point at the southern tip of the Beecroft Peninsula
Beecroft Peninsula
Beecroft Peninsula is a peninsula located to the north and east of Jervis Bay in south-eastern Australia. The peninsula forms the northern headland of Jervis Bay....
, in 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 marks and the northern entrance to Jervis Bay
Jervis Bay
Jervis Bay is a large bay bounded by the state of New South Wales, the Jervis Bay Territory, and a detached enclave of the Australian Capital Territory. HMAS Creswell is located between Jervis Bay Village and Greenpatch in the Jervis Bay Territory.-History:...
. The historic lighthouse was active from 1889 to 1993 and is still present, though its future is unclear. It is believed to be the first lighthouse in New South Wales which was built of precast concrete blocks. The light was replaced in 1993 with a skeletal tower which is active.
History
Point Perpendicular Lighthouse was built to replace Cape St George Lighthouse which was inadequately located on the southern entrance to Jarvis Bay, a fact which was apparent since its construction in 1860. Suggested places for a replacing the light were on Bowen IslandBowen Island
Bowen Island, British Columbia, is an island municipality in Howe Sound, is part of the Greater Vancouver Regional District, and is an island included within the jurisdiction of the Islands Trust . Approximately 6 km wide by 12 km long, the island at its closest point is about 2 km...
or Crocodile Head. Point Perpendicular was chosen in September 1883 by Colonial Architect 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...
and Captain Francis Hixson of the Marine Board.
The plans for the lighthouse were signed on 18 March 1897. The lighthouse 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...
's successor, Charles Assinder Harding, who also later designed Cape Byron Light
Cape Byron Light
Cape Byron Light is an active lighthouse located at Cape Byron, New South Wales, Australia. The cape is the easternmost point of the mainland of Australia, located about northeast of the town of Byron Bay...
and Norah Head Light
Norah Head Light
Norah Head Light is an active lighthouse located at Norah Head, a headland on the Central Coast, New South Wales, Australia, close to Toukley. It is the last lighthouse of the James Barnet style to be built, and the last staffed lighthouse constructed in New South Wales.Officially displayed for the...
, in a style similar to Barnet's.
Tenders were called on 15 April 1897, and by September 1897 construction has started. Most of the materials were landed at Bindijine Wharf, about 5 miles (8 km) northwest, which was constructed in 1898. Horse and cart were then used to transport them to the site.
The light was first lit on 1 May 1899. The original light source was a vaporized kerosene lamp with an intensity of 100,000 cd and a visible range of around 33 kilometres (20.5 mi). The apparatus installed was a massive Chance Bros. 920 millimetres (36.2 in) three faceted 1st order 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...
, weighing 33 tonnes (32.5 LT), and the original light characteristic was a white flash every 20 seconds (Fl W 20s). The lens are still installed in the lighthouse.
In 1909 the light source was first upgraded, to an intensity of 222,000 cd. It was further upgraded in 1923, to an intensity of 316,000 cd.
In 1964 the light was electrified, 2 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 serving as the power source.
On 5 July 1993 the light was shut down and replaced with a fully automated, 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 lamp on top of a lattice skeletal tower. At that time the light was a 120 V, 1000 W quartz halogen lamp, visible to a range of 26 nautical miles (48.2 km) and the light characteristic was a group of three white flashes every twenty seconds (Gr(3) W 20s).
The future of the lighthouse is unclear. Though it was agreed upon that access to the historic lighthouse would continue, the Department of Defence
Department of Defence (Australia)
The Australian Department of Defence is a Federal Government Department. It forms part of the Australian Defence Organisation along with the Australian Defence Force . The Defence mission is to defend Australia and its national interests...
, the agency governing the site, originally fenced it and access was limited. It is unclear what the exact restrictions are at this point. The structures on the location were put on sale, and the outcome of this is also unclear.
Light keepers
The first keepers were William Parker as head keeper, with William Simpson and Arthur Bailey as assistant keepers. William Parker was previously the light keeper of Cape St George Lighthouse, and Arthur Bailey was the son of Edward Bailey, the late keeper of Cape St George Lighthouse.The last keeper was John Hampson.
Re-lightings
The light was relit twice to celebrate important occasions.The first occasion was the lighthouse centenary, which was on 1 May 1999, though celebrations were postponed until October 1999 to be incorporated in the Currarong Seafare Festival. Celebrations included a ball and an art and photography competition on 15 October 1999. This was followed by on-site celebrations on 16 October, including tours, a naval display, a market day, children's activities and finally, the lighthouse was lit. The light remained lit between 6pm (which was the time of dusk, the light was set to switch itself automatically) and 11pm. The new light was shut down for the period.
The light was re-lit once more on 20–21 August 2005 for the International Lighthouse & Lightship Weekend 2005.
Structures
The tower is made from concrete blocks which were made on the ground, lifted into position, and then cement-rendered inside and outside, a technique which eases building as it does not require 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:...
s or scaffolding
Scaffolding
Scaffolding is a temporary structure used to support people and material in the construction or repair of buildings and other large structures. It is usually a modular system of metal pipes or tubes, although it can be from other materials...
. The block varied in size and shape, but were mostly 12 inches (30.5 cm) high.
The tower is circular, with an internal diameter of 11 in 9 in (3.58 m). It is 44 feet (13.4 m) to the balcony, divided into three stories by concrete floors paved with black and white tiles, staircases 3 foot (0.9144 m) wide leading from one floor to the next, with a handrail of 2 inches (5.1 cm) heavy brass tubing. On top of the tower is 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 and balcony with black railings.
The tower is painted white with a blue trim on the bottom.
Above the main door there is a glass window displaying a Waratah
Waratah
Waratah is a genus of five species of large shrubs or small trees in the Proteaceae, native to the southeastern parts of Australia...
, the state flower of New South Wales, and the construction date.
The tower is attached to a one-story 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 made from the same concrete blocks, painted likewise white with a blue trim on the bottom.
The keepers' residences are located about 70 feet (21.3 m) south of the lighthouse. Originally each had an underground water tank of 6500 gallons (29,549.6 l), kept filled by rain from the roofs.
Also present is a structure originally serving as a two-stall stable and coach house, which was later used to house the generators.
Site operation and visiting
The light is operated by 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 operated by the Department of Defence
Department of Defence (Australia)
The Australian Department of Defence is a Federal Government Department. It forms part of the Australian Defence Organisation along with the Australian Defence Force . The Defence mission is to defend Australia and its national interests...
, and used for gunnery practice about 100 days a year, in which access is limited.
See also
- List of lighthouses and lightvessels in Australia