Smoky Cape Lighthouse
Encyclopedia
Smoky Cape Lighthouse is an active lighthouse
located on Smoky Cape
, a headland
east of the town of South West Rocks, New South Wales
, Australia
, and within the Hat Head National Park
. It directs boats towards the entrance to the Macleay River
, which is located just to the north of the lighthouse.
It is one of the last major lighthouse complexes designed by the New South Wales
colonial architect
of the time, James Barnet
, and was one of Australia's last lighthouses to be designed for architectural excellence.
Standing on a granite headland 140 metres above the sea, its light is the highest in New South Wales.
, and was completed in 1891. The contract to build it was won by Mr Oakes but he died during construction and the work was completed by his executors.
As a result of the Commonwealth Lighthouses Act of 1911, management of the lighthouse was transferred in 1915 to Federal control because of its status as a coastal light.
Since 1939, the lighthouse has been an Australian Bureau of Meteorology site for the gathering of climate statistics.
During the World War 2, the lighthouse precinct was used for military purposes. There was a searchlight battery and light gun emplacement, and possibly a radio room, operating there at that time. The concrete remains of the military installation are still visible.
In 1962 the light was electrified and around 1988 it was automated. The optic system is still the original first order Fresnel lens
.
On May 14, 1998, Smoky Cape was the first NSW Parks and Wildlife Service lighthouse to be opened for tours.
house and Green Cape Lighthouse
).
The fact that it has its original Chance Brothers
revolving apparatus and lens, and lantern house, makes it an important example of late nineteenth century industrial maritime technology.
and is classified by the National Trust of Australia
(NSW).
Its nearest lighthouses are South Solitary Island Lighthouse north of Coffs Harbour, to the north, and Tacking Point Lighthouse
at Port Macquarie, to the south.
The lighthouse complex is located in Hat Head National Park
. The head keeper's cottage is now run as a bed and breakfast
, and two other cottages as holiday houses, leased from the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service
.
The cape is a popular point for whale-watching.
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 Smoky Cape
Smoky Cape
Smoky Cape is a headland in Australia on the New South Wales Mid-North Coast. It lies just east of the town of South West Rocks, and within the Hat Head National Park.- Cape :...
, 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...
east of the town of South West Rocks, 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...
, and within the Hat Head National Park
Hat Head National Park
Hat Head is a national park in New South Wales, Australia, 356 km northeast of Sydney. It lies within the Hastings-Macleay Important Bird Area....
. It directs boats towards the entrance to the Macleay River
Macleay River
The Macleay River is a major river on the Mid North Coast , Australia.The headwaters of the Macleay River rise as the Gara River on the eastern side of the Northern Tablelands near Armidale and Walcha, New South Wales. From here the Chandler River, Styx River and Apsley Rivers are important...
, which is located just to the north of the lighthouse.
It is one of the last major lighthouse complexes designed by the 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...
colonial 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....
of the time, 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 was one of Australia's last lighthouses to be designed for architectural excellence.
Standing on a granite headland 140 metres above the sea, its light is the highest in New South Wales.
History
The lighthouse was first proposed in 1886 to ensure the safety of the increasing coastal traffic on the northern seaboard of New South WalesNew 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...
, and was completed in 1891. The contract to build it was won by Mr Oakes but he died during construction and the work was completed by his executors.
As a result of the Commonwealth Lighthouses Act of 1911, management of the lighthouse was transferred in 1915 to Federal control because of its status as a coastal light.
Since 1939, the lighthouse has been an Australian Bureau of Meteorology site for the gathering of climate statistics.
During the World War 2, the lighthouse precinct was used for military purposes. There was a searchlight battery and light gun emplacement, and possibly a radio room, operating there at that time. The concrete remains of the military installation are still visible.
In 1962 the light was electrified and around 1988 it was automated. The optic system is still the original first 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...
.
On May 14, 1998, Smoky Cape was the first NSW Parks and Wildlife Service lighthouse to be opened for tours.
Design
The lighthouse's design is unusual for its octagonal tower, and was so designed because it was easier to cast the tower in the octagonal formwork than round formwork. It has a single story pavilion entrance, cast iron staircase and distinctive gunmetal balustrade. It is one of only three nineteenth century mass concrete lighthouses in NSW (the others being South Solitary Island LightSouth Solitary Island Light
South Solitary Island Light is an active lighthouse on South Solitary Island, an island about northeast of Coffs Harbour, New South Wales, Australia. The lighthouse is located at the summit of the island. It is considered the most isolated lighthouse on the New South Wales coast...
house and Green Cape Lighthouse
Green Cape Lighthouse
The Green Cape Lighthouse is a lighthouse located at the tip of Green Cape, a headland forming the northern boundary of Disaster Bay, in southern New South Wales, Australia. It is the southernmost lighthouse in New South Wales and Australia's first lighthouse built in concrete. At it is also the...
).
The fact that it has its 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....
revolving apparatus and lens, and lantern house, makes it an important example of late nineteenth century industrial maritime technology.
Operation and Tourism
The lighthouse 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...
and is classified by the National Trust of Australia
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....
(NSW).
Its nearest lighthouses are South Solitary Island Lighthouse north of Coffs Harbour, to the north, and Tacking Point Lighthouse
Tacking Point Lighthouse
Tacking Point Lighthouse is Australia's third oldest lighthouse. It was built on a rocky headland about 8 kilometres south of Port Macquarie in 1879 by Shepard and Mortley, to a design by the New South Wales government's architect of the time, James Barnet...
at Port Macquarie, to the south.
The lighthouse complex is located in Hat Head National Park
Hat Head National Park
Hat Head is a national park in New South Wales, Australia, 356 km northeast of Sydney. It lies within the Hastings-Macleay Important Bird Area....
. The head keeper's cottage is now run as a bed and breakfast
Bed and breakfast
A bed and breakfast is a small lodging establishment that offers overnight accommodation and breakfast, but usually does not offer other meals. Since the 1980s, the meaning of the term has also extended to include accommodations that are also known as "self-catering" establishments...
, and two other cottages as holiday houses, leased from the NSW 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....
.
The cape is a popular point for whale-watching.