Nobbys Head Light

Nobbys Head Light

Nobbys Head Light, 1902
Location	Nobbys Head, New South Wales Australia
Coordinates	32°55′6.86″S 151°47′54.27″E / 32.9185722°S 151.7984083°E / -32.9185722; 151.7984083
Year first lit	1858[1]
Automated	1935
Construction	dressed sandstone
Tower shape	round, lantern, gallery
Markings / pattern	white
Height	32 feet (9.8 m)[2]
Focal height	115 feet (35 m)[3]
Intensity	580,000 cd
Range	24 nautical miles (44 km; 28 mi)
Characteristic	Fl.(2+1) W. 20s
Fog signal	Siren(1) 20s
Admiralty number	K2728
NGA number	111-6064
ARLHS number	AUS-118

Nobbys Head, 2009

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.^[4]

The site and the lighthouses are managed by the Newcastle Port Corporation. They are closed to the public.

History

The first beacon in the area was an open coal fire set on Signal Head with a range of 7 kilometres (4.3 mi). This was changed in 1821 to a large metal device burning oil which was visible for 12 kilometres (7.5 mi), but shortly reverted to coal as the oil system was not reliable.

Nobbys Head in 1887

By 1846 Nobbys Head, originally a small islet more than 60 metres (200 ft) high, was connected to the mainland with a causeway. The island was reduced in height to improve the sailing conditions and to accommodate for a lighthouse and signal station, built in 1858. The lighthouse was designed by Alexander Dawson. The original light had an intensity of 20,000 cd and was attended by three lighthouse keepers.

In 1934 the light was electrified and automated.

The current light source is a 120 V 1000 W, quartz halogen lamp and the power source is mains electricity with a diesel generator as backup. Currently at the site are three one-story keeper's houses, a three-story signal station, and other buildings housing the port watch. The entire station is floodlit at night.

See also

• List of lighthouses and lightvessels in Australia

References and notes

1. ^ According to "Lighthouses of Australia". Directory of Lighthouses says 1854.
2. ^ According to List of Lights. "Lighthouses of Australia" says 35m.
3. ^ According to List of Lights. "Lighthouses of Australia" says 25m.
4. ^ "Commonwealth heritage places in New South Wales (Nobbys Lighthouse, Newcastle East)". Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts. http://www.environment.gov.au/heritage/places/commonwealth/nsw.html#nobbys. Retrieved 2008-07-21. 

• (PDF) List of Lights, Pub. 111, The West Coasts of North and South America (Excluding Continental U.S.A. and Hawaii), Australia, Tasmania, New Zealand, and the Islands of the North and South Pacific Oceans. List of Lights. United States National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. 2009. p. 124. http://msi.nga.mil/MSISiteContent/StaticFiles/NAV_PUBS/NIMA_LOL/Pub111/Pub111bk.pdf. 
• Rowlett, Russ. "Lighthouses of Australia: New South Wales". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. http://www.unc.edu/~rowlett/lighthouse/nsw.htm. Retrieved 2010-08-29. 
• "The Nobbys Head Lighthouse at Newcastle". Lighthouses of New South Wales. Lighthouses of Australia Inc. http://www.lighthouse.net.au/lights/NSW/Nobbys%20Head/Nobbys%20Head.htm. 
• Searle, Garry. "Nobby". Lighthouses of New South Wales. SeaSide Lights. http://www.seasidelights.com.au/au/NSW/nobbys.asp?fState=NSW.