Green Cape Lighthouse
The Green Cape Lighthouse was the first cast concrete lighthouse tower in Australia. It is situated in the picturesque Ben Boyd National Park.
History
The Green Cape Lighthouse was built in 1883 and was the first cast concrete lighthouse tower in Australia. At 29 metres it is the state’s tallest light.
The lightstation is situated on a point of land projecting from Ben Boyd National Park. It is the southernmost lighthouse in New South Wales.
Problems occurred during construction when a 6 metre white clay belt was discovered forcing the foundation to be dug to 9 metres altogether.
The original Chance Brothers revolving lantern was fuelled by kerosene and mantle, and produced 100,000 candelas for a radius of 34km.
The light was electrified in 1962 and upgraded to 1,000,000 candelas in 1967.
The tower has since been replaced by the latest automated steel lattice skeleton tower with a solar powered light.
continued below …
Image: Garry Searle
Image: Sharon Johnston
Image: Garry Searle
6 April 1987
Image: Murray Foote
Image: AMSA
© All images are copyright of their respective photographers and are not to be used without permission.
| Title | Address | Description |
|---|---|---|
Montague Island | Unnamed Road, New South Wales, Australia | Montague Island |
Green Cape | Green Cape Lighthouse Rd, Green Cape NSW 2551, Australia | Green Cape |
Gabo Island | Unnamed Road, Mallacoota VIC 3892, Australia | Gabo Island |
Point Hicks | Lighthouse Track, Tamboon VIC 3880, Australia | Point Hicks |
continued from above …
SS LY-EE-MOON
Despite the presence of the lighthouse a major shipwreck occurred in May 1886. The SS Ly-ee-moon en route to Sydney from Melbourne, struck a reef close to the Green Cape in Southern NSW at night. 71 souls were lost with the lighthouse keepers only being able to save 15 people under the conditions.
Keepers
We need your help in compiling a list of keepers for this lighthouse. If you have any information then send it to keeper@lighthouses.org.au.
Please include this lighthouse’s name, the keepers full name and what years they were keepers. Also include the same information for any other lights they were on.
Heritage Light
| Current Tower | 1993 |
| First Exhibited | 1 November 1883 |
| Status | De-activated |
| Location | Lat. 37° 15.715' S Long. 150° 02.995' E |
| Original Optic | Chance Bros 920mm eight sided catadioptic |
| Current Optic | Chance Bros 920mm 4 sided catadioptic |
| De-activated | March 1994 |
| Demanned | 1992 |
| Construction | Mass concrete |
| Height | 29 m |
| Elevation | 44 m |
| Range | 22 NM |
| Character | Flashing white (2) 15s |
| Intensity | 1,200,000 cd |
| Light Source | 1000W tungsten halogen bi post |
| Power Source | Solar/Diesel generator |
| Operator | Lighthouses of Australia special occasions |
| Custodian | NSW National Parks & Wildlife |
| Notes | Replaced by solar light on steel lattice tower |
NB: Information is historical data and is not for navigational purposes.
Current Light
| First Exhibited | 1 November 1883 |
| Current Tower | 1993 |
| Status | Active |
| Current Optic | Tideland Nova 250 LED signal lantern |
| Commissioned | March 1994 |
| Construction | Steel lattice tower surmounted with size 3 GRB hut |
| Height | 17 m |
| Elevation | 39 m |
| Range | 14 NM |
| Character | Flashing white (2) 15s |
| Intensity | 14,000 cd |
| Light Source | High intensity LED's |
| Power Source | Solar |
| Operator | AMSA |
| Custodian | AMSA |
| Notes | Replaced 1883 heritage light |
NB: Information is historical data and is not for navigational purposes.
Access
The Green Cape Lighthouse is located in the Ben Boyd National Park 22 kilometres south of Two Fold Bay. Accommodation is available. The nearest town is Eden.
Tours
Contact National Parks
Accommodation
National Parks offer accommodation in the Lightstation Keepers Cottages
Museum
No
Sources
- Cyril Curtain for Photographs
- Grant Maizels for Photographs
- Linda Merson for Photograph
- Steve Merson for Photographs
- Brian Lord
- From Dusk Till Dawn by Gordon Reid