Wollongong Breakwater Lighthouse
Wollongong Breakwater Lighthouse
|
|
 New South Wales
|
|
| Location | Belmore Basin Wollongong Australia |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 34°25′11″S 150°54′24″E / 34.41972°S 150.90667°E |
| Year first constructed | 1872 |
| Deactivated | 1974 |
| Foundation | ferro-concrete |
| Construction | wrought iron tower |
| Tower shape | tapered cylindrical tower with balcony and lantern |
| Markings / pattern | white tower and lantern |
| Height | 12.8 metres (42 ft) |
| Focal height | 17.1 metres (56 ft) |
| Light source | mains power |
| Intensity | 1000 cd |
| Range | 10 nautical miles (19 km; 12 mi) |
| Characteristic | Fl (3) WR 20s. |
| ARLHS number | AUS-172 |
| Managing agent | NSW Maritime |
Wollongong Breakwater Lighthouse, also known as Wollongong Harbour Lighthouse, is a historic lighthouse situated on the southern breakwater of Wollongong Harbour, in Wollongong, a coastal city south of Sydney, New South Wales. Wollongong is the only place in the east of Australia to have two lighthouses located in close proximity of each other, the other being Wollongong Head Lighthouse. While no longer used, the lighthouse was restored in 2002 as operational and is listed an official heritage building.
The Wollongong Harbour is home to private vessels and the local fishing fleet in the inner Belmore Basin. South of the city lies Port Kembla, a major steelmaking, minerals, grain and vehicle handling harbour. A further hazard to shipping is an island group known collectively as The Five Islands lying a short distance off the coast.
The Wollongong Breakwater Lighthouse, known affectionately by the locals as Old Wollongong Lighthouse, was built in 1871 after an earlier request made by the Wollongong Borough Council in 1866 to help mariners safely navigate the port of Wollongong in the early days of the coal industry in the Illawarra region. It is situated on the southern breakwater, within walking distance to its newer twin, the Wollongong Head Lighthouse.
Designed by Edward Orpen Moriarty MA MInstCE, the Engineer-in-Chief of Harbours and Rivers Department, the tower is constructed of wrought iron on a ferro-concrete base to survive any gale force weather in the area. It is one of the two towers in New South Wales made from wrought iron plates—another identical one, Warden Head Light, was built at Ulladulla Breakwater which later moved to Warden Head. Its construction was delayed by heavy seas which the tower did survive through. Until the lighthouse came into service, a temporary red light was fixed in a box at the end of the pier. Its lantern was installed in July 1871 but its light was not exhibited regularly until January 1872.
...
Wikipedia