Breaksea Island Lighthouse
The first tower on Breaksea Island was commenced in May 1857 by Royal Engineers under Capt. Wray. The cost was borne by the Imperial Government with all materials sent from England.
History
Made to a design by the Colonial Lighthouse Engineer at the Board of Trade in London, the 13.1m high octagonal cast-iron tower was imported from England and assembled on Breaksea Island at the entrance to King George’s Sound by convicts in 1858.
The lighthouse was lit by a 2nd order catadioptric light with oil burners and was placed 116.7m asl and was visible for 9 leagues (27 NM). The island was connected to Albany by telephone in 1885.
The current tower in rough dressed stone and standing 7.3m tall was built in 1901 and was given a Chance Brothers 1st order fixed lens housed inside a massive 14′ (4.3m) lantern. The contract price for the tower was £2700. In 1915 the lens was valued at £3251.
Manning ceased in 1926 and the light became lit by acetylene gas. Gas cylinders were pulled by seamen harnessed to a cart and later by jeep. In 1984 it was converted to Solar power.
Lighthouses on the Western Australian Coast and Off-Shore Islands
1995 Author/s D.A. Cumming, M. Glasson and M. McCarthy
http://museum.wa.gov.au/maritime-archaeology-db/maritime-reports/lighthouses-western-australian-coast-and-shore-islands
© All images are copyright of their respective photographers and are not to be used without permission.
| Title | Address | Description |
|---|---|---|
Cape Leeuwin | Leeuwin Rd, Augusta WA 6290, Australia | Go to Cape Leeuwin |
Breaksea Island | Unnamed Road, Nanarup WA 6330, Australia | Go to Breaksea Island |
Cave Point | Unnamed Road, Torndirrup WA 6330, Australia | Go to Cave Point |
Eclipse Island | The Gap Rd, Torndirrup WA 6330, Australia | Go to Eclipse Island |
Cape Naturaliste | Bunker Bay Walk Trail, Naturaliste WA 6281, Australia | Go to Cape Naturaliste |
Casuarina Point | 1 Bennett Way, Bunbury WA 6230, Australia | Go to Casuarina Point |
Arthur Head | 15 Captains Ln, Fremantle WA 6160, Australia | Go to Arthur Head |
South Mole | 1 Fleet St, Fremantle WA 6160, Australia | Go to South Mole |
North Mole | N Mole Dr, North Fremantle WA 6159, Australia | North Mole |
Woodman Point | 597 Cockburn Rd, Munster WA 6166, Australia | Go to Woodman Point |
Wadjemup (Rottnest) | Wadjemup Rd, Rottnest Island WA 6161, Australia | Go to Wadjemup (Rottnest) |
Bathurst Point | Lancier St, Rottnest Island WA 6161, Australia | Go to Bathurst Point |
Guilderton | 5 Tank Road, Guilderton WA 6041, Australia | Go to Guilderton |
Escape Island | Escape Island, Western Australia, Australia | Go to Escape Island |
Pelsaert Island | Houtman Abrolhos WA 6530, Australia | Go to Pelsaert Island |
Point Moore | 481-485 Marine Terrace, West End WA 6530, Australia | Go to Point Moore |
Bluff Point | 118A Kempton St, Bluff Point WA 6530, Australia | Go to Bluff Point |
Cape Inscription | Unnamed Road, Dirk Hartog Island WA 6537, Australia | Go to Cape Inscription |
Babbage Island | 13 Annear Pl, Babbage Island WA 6701, Australia | Go to Babbage Island |
Point Quobba | Unnamed Road, Macleod WA 6701, Australia | Go to Point Quobba |
Point Cloates | Cardabia-Ningaloo Rd, Ningaloo WA 6701, Australia | Go to Point Cloates |
Vlaming Head | Yardie Creek Rd, North West Cape WA 6707, Australia | Got to Vlaming Head |
Jarman Island | Reader Head Rd, Cossack WA 6720, Australia | Go to Jarman Island |
Gantheaume Point | Lurujarri Walk, Minyirr WA 6725, Australia | Go to Gantheaume Point |
Cape Bossut | Cape Bossut, Lagrange WA 6725, Australia | Go to Cape Bossut |
Cape Leveque | Broome-Cape Leveque Rd, Dampier Peninsula WA 6725, Australia | Go to Cape Leveque |
Caffarelli Island | Caffarelli Island, Western Australia, Australia | Go to Caffarelli Island |
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 | 1858 |
| CurrentTower | 1902 |
| Architect | |
| Status | Active |
| Location | Lat: 35° 03.8680' S Long: 118° 03.4510' E |
| Original Optic | |
| Current Optic | Chance 920 mm f.r. with 160° vertically de-centred dioptric mirror |
| Automated | |
| Demanned | 1926 |
| Construction | Grey stone tower and white Chance 14′ diameter lantern |
| Height | 16 m |
| Elevation | 119 m |
| Range | Nominal: 13 nm Geographical: 27 nm |
| Character | Fl. W. (2) in 6 secs |
| Intensity | 5,900 cd |
| Light Source | 12V 35W C8 Halogen |
| Power Source | Solar Conv'n: Nov 1984 |
| Operator | AMSA |
| Notes | As at Sept 2015 |
NB: Information is historical data and is not for navigational purposes.
Access
The lighthouse grounds are open all year round. The tower is not open to the public. The island could be accessed by boat or helicopter.
Tours
No tours are available.
Accommodation
No lighthouse accommodation is available
Museum
Links
Nil
Sources
Lighthouses on the Western Australian Coast and Off-Shore Islands
1995 Author/s D.A. Cumming, M. Glasson and M. McCarthy 