Seal Rocks, New South Wales
Encyclopedia
Seal Rocks is a small coastal settlement in the Great Lakes Council Local Government Area, in the Mid North Coast/Hunter regions of New South Wales
, Australia
, 275 kilometres (171 mi) north-north-east of Sydney
. It is famous for its many premier surfing beaches (including Lighthouse Beach, Treachery and Yagon), and also for being the home of Seal Rocks lighthouse, officially known as Sugarloaf Point Light
house. At the 2006 census, the area had a population of 131 persons.
The tower is constructed of brick, rendered and painted white. Also constructed were three adjoining cottages, various outbuildings, the construction of the road from Bungwahl
, and a 460 metres (1,509 ft) long jetty which was used to land some 1829 tonnes (1,800 LT) of building supplies and materials.
The light was upgraded in 1923 and was converted from kerosene
to acetylene
gas. Electricity was introduced in 1966 and the light was kept manned for many years despite automation
in 1987.
The Sugarloaf lighthouse is the second-most easterly one in Australia, after the Byron Bay
lighthouse, and offers accommodation in three cottages.
One of Australia's biggest shipping disasters occurred off Sugarloaf Point;- the wreck of the Catterthun in 1895 when bound from Sydney to China
with the loss of thirty one lives. Although some reports state that 55 persons lost their lives, the NSW marine board of inquiry listed 31 as the correct number.
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...
, 275 kilometres (171 mi) north-north-east of Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
. It is famous for its many premier surfing beaches (including Lighthouse Beach, Treachery and Yagon), and also for being the home of Seal Rocks lighthouse, officially known as Sugarloaf Point Light
Sugarloaf Point Light
Sugarloaf Point Light, also known as Seal Rocks Lighthouse, is an active lighthouse located on Sugarloaf Point, a point about southeast of Seal Rocks, New South Wales, Australia. It guards Seal Rocks, a treacherous rock formation to the south. It is the first lighthouse designed by James Barnet...
house. At the 2006 census, the area had a population of 131 persons.
Sugarloaf Point Lighthouse
The construction of Sugarloaf Lighthouse was completed in 1875, ten years after it was recommended a light be placed to highlight the treacherous Seal Rocks. It was originally intended to place the light on Seal Rocks but landing was difficult the proposition was abandoned.The tower is constructed of brick, rendered and painted white. Also constructed were three adjoining cottages, various outbuildings, the construction of the road from Bungwahl
Bungwahl, New South Wales
Bungwahl is a small town in the Australian state of New South Wales, near Myall Lakes. It is close to lakes and beaches and contains the turnoff to Seal Rocks which gives access to the lakes such as Nerani, Stewarts Wharf, The Hearts and various camping sites around the lakes....
, and a 460 metres (1,509 ft) long jetty which was used to land some 1829 tonnes (1,800 LT) of building supplies and materials.
The light was upgraded in 1923 and was converted from 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...
to acetylene
Acetylene
Acetylene is the chemical compound with the formula C2H2. It is a hydrocarbon and the simplest alkyne. This colorless gas is widely used as a fuel and a chemical building block. It is unstable in pure form and thus is usually handled as a solution.As an alkyne, acetylene is unsaturated because...
gas. Electricity was introduced in 1966 and the light was kept manned for many years despite automation
Automation
Automation is the use of control systems and information technologies to reduce the need for human work in the production of goods and services. In the scope of industrialization, automation is a step beyond mechanization...
in 1987.
The Sugarloaf lighthouse is the second-most easterly one in Australia, after the Byron Bay
Byron Bay, New South Wales
Byron Bay is a beachside town located in the far-northeastern corner of the state of New South Wales, Australia. It is located north of Sydney and south of Brisbane. Cape Byron, a headland adjacent to the town, is the easternmost point of mainland Australia. At the 2006 Census, the town had a...
lighthouse, and offers accommodation in three cottages.
One of Australia's biggest shipping disasters occurred off Sugarloaf Point;- the wreck of the Catterthun in 1895 when bound from Sydney to China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
with the loss of thirty one lives. Although some reports state that 55 persons lost their lives, the NSW marine board of inquiry listed 31 as the correct number.