Norah Head Lighthouse
T]he Norah Head Lighthouse was the last to be built in the classical James Barnet style that had marked the erection of lighthouses throughout the later part of the 19th century in New South Wales.
History
The lighthouse was strongly mooted by local landholder Edward Hargraves (who is credited with starting the first Australian gold rush in 1851) because of his concern over the number of wrecks in the area. These included the Gwydir with three lives in 1894 and earlier a boat with 20 Chinese seamen whose bodies where washed ashore.
The lighthouse at Norah Head was established in 1903.
It was the last of the lighthouses built in the style of James Barnet. Even though it bears the typical characteristics of his style it is not known whether Barnet or his successor C W Darley who built the tower designed it.
The tower is a precast concrete block structure where the blocks were cast on the ground and raised into place. Earlier Barnet towers had the same style but their construction was expensive due to the availability of suitable stone and the use of stonemasons to shape and dress the stone.
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Title | Address | Description |
---|---|---|
Nobbys Head | Newcastle East NSW 2300, Australia | Nobbys Head |
Norah Head | 40 Bush St, Norah Head NSW 2263, Australia | Norah Head |
Hornby Head | S Head Heritage Trail, Watsons Bay NSW 2030, Australia | Hornby Head |
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The light was upgraded in 1923 to a Ford-Schmidt kerosene burner that increased the its brilliance from 438,000 to 700,000 candlepower.
In 1961 it was converted to mains electricity and the power increased to 1,000,000 candlepower.
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.
Technical Details
First Exhibited | 1903 |
Permanent Tower | |
Current Tower | |
Status | Active |
Location | Lat. 33° 16.9' S. Long. 151° 34.7' E. |
Original Optic | |
Current Optic | |
Automated | 1995 |
Demanned | |
Construction | Precast concrete blocks |
Height | 27 m |
Elevation | 46 m |
Range | 26 NM |
Character | Fl. W 15 secs, anti-clockwise rotation |
Intensity | 1,000,000 cd |
Light Source | 1000W 120 Volt tungsten halogen |
Power Source | Mains power |
Operator | NSW Transport Maritime Services |
Custodian | NSW Department of Industry Crown Lands |
Notes |
NB: Information is historical data and is not for navigational purposes.
Access
The lighthouse grounds are open all year.
Site Access
The Norah Head Lighthouse is available for accommodation, tours and weddings.
Tours
The lighthouse is open for tours most days
Have your wedding ceremony at the Norah Head Lighthouse.
Accommodation
Accommodation is available in both the Head Lightkeepers and Assistant Lightkeepers cottages.
Museum
A small museum is in the base of the lighthouse tower.
Associated Lighthouses
Sources
- Annette Flotwell for Photographs
- Cyril Curtain for Photographs
- IR for Photographs
- Ian Clifford for Photographs
- Winsome Bonham for Photographs
- Joy Groves, Central Coast Tourism, for information
- AMSA
- Brian Lord
- From Dusk Till Dawn by Gordon Reid