Tiparra Reef Lighthouse
The Tiparra Reef lighthouse was one of 4 over-water lighthouses in South Australia. The others at Cape Jaffa, Port Adelaide and Wonga Shoal.
History
Lighthouse at Tiparra (or Tipara) in the Spencer Gulf off Moonta Bay, South Australia. The screw pile lighthouse over the Tipara (this is the more usual spelling) Reef in Moonta Bay was the first lighthouse in Spencer Gulf and was operational from August 1877. Prior to this a lightship was stationed over the reef. The pyramidal skeletal tower is very like the Cape Jaffa Lighthouse on Margaret Brock reef in the state’s south-east.
This was the schooner Alexander, and it operated from February 1865. However following a number of wrecks and near misses it was decided a lighthouse should be built there.
Tipara Reef lighthouse was the first lighthouse in Spencer Gulf. It used a Chance Brothers first order apparatus for its light. The light’s platform was well frequented by birds and a major task of visiting service crews was the removal of nests.
Tipara Reef Lighthouse was replaced by a light tower at Warburto Point on the adjacent mainland in 1995. The tower of the old Tipara Reef light now stands in Wallaroo at the Maritime Museum. There is a small beacon on the remnants of the platform.
From http://www.samemory.sa.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=634&c=2587
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| Title | Address | Description |
|---|---|---|
Point Lowly | LOT 2 Port Bonython Rd, Point Lowly SA 5600, Australia | Go to Point Lowly |
Port Germein | 35 Esplanade, Port Germein SA 5495, Australia | Go to Port Germein |
Warburto Point | Unnamed Road, Warburto SA 5558, Australia | Go to Tiparra Reef |
Tiparra Reef | Tiparra Reef, South Australia, Australia | Go to Tiparra Reef |
Wardang Island | Unnamed Road, South Australia 5573, Australia | Go to Wardang Island |
Althorpe Island (Lead) | Pondalowie Bay Rd, Inneston SA 5577, Australia | Go to Althorpe Island |
West Cape | Pondalowie Bay Rd, Inneston SA 5577, Australia | Go to West Cape |
Althorpe Island | Pondalowie Bay Rd, Inneston SA 5577, Australia | Go to Althorpe Island |
Cape Spencer | Cape Spencer Rd, Inneston SA 5577, Australia | Go to Cape Spencer |
Corny Point | 368 Lighthouse Rd, Corny Point SA 5575, Australia | Go to Corny Point |
Troubridge Hill | 90 Clan Ranald Rd, Honiton SA 5576, Australia | Go to Troubridge Hill |
Troubridge Shoal | 93 Sultana Point Rd, Sultana Point SA 5583, Australia | Go to Troubridge Shoal |
Port Adelaide | 2A McLaren Parade, Port Adelaide SA 5015, Australia | Go to Port Adelaide |
Port Adelaide (Heritage) | Unit 6/26-28 S Australia One Dr, North Haven SA 5018, Australia | Go to Port Adelaide |
Marino Rocks | Marino Rocks Lighthouse, 40 Bundarra Rd, Marino SA 5049, Australia | Marino Rocks |
Wonga Shoal | Wonga Shoal, South Australia, Australia | Go to Wonga Shoal |
Cape Jervis | Wonga Shoal, South Australia, Australia | Go to Cape Jervis |
continued from above …
More history.
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 | |
| Permanent Tower | |
| CurrentTower | |
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| Status | |
| Location | |
| Original Optic | |
| Current Optic | |
| Automated | |
| Demanned | |
| Construction | |
| Height | |
| Elevation | |
| Range | |
| Character | |
| Intensity | |
| Light Source | |
| Power Source | |
| Operator | |
| Custodian | |
| Notes |
NB: Information is historical data and is not for navigational purposes.
Access
The re-located lighthouse tower grounds are open all year round. The tower is not open to the public.
Tours
No tours are available.
Museum
Wallaroo Heritage and Nautical Museum
Associated Lighthouse