North Mole Lighthouse
History
The South and North moles were built by Western Australia’s legendary chief engineer CY O’Connor as part of the Fremantle harbour works, which began in 1893. Two cast iron pre-fabricated lighthouse towers and all associated equipment were ordered from Chance Brothers, one lighthouse for the end of each mole. The South Mole lighthouse was lit on 20 July 1903. North Mole, which is longer, took more time for the rocks to settle and a temporary wooden pyramidal structure with a light on top remained in use until 1906.
When lit in May 1906, North Mole exhibited a fixed red light. It was powered by oil, but a newspaper report that month noted that it would be changed to electricity as soon as possible. In 1947 the light was changed to flashing red every second, and to very quick flashing red in 2018.
When erected, the tower was painted French grey with a white lantern and remained in this colour scheme for many decades. At some time after World War II the tower was painted red. A security fence was erected around the lighthouse after 2013.
In 1942 Fremantle harbour was closed and it became the largest submarine base in the southern hemisphere; 170 British, American and Dutch submarines were based there at different times throughout the rest of the war. In 1943 the lanterns were removed from the two mole lighthouses so that observation posts and anti-submarine guns could be placed on top. The lanterns were placed on wooden structures. The lantern of the South Mole lighthouse was reinstated in November 1946, North Mole lighthouse at a later date.
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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 |
continued from above …
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 | 1898 |
Permanent Tower | |
CurrentTower | 1904 |
Architect | |
Status | Active |
Location | 32° 03.2´ S 115° 43.5´ E |
Original Optic | 4th order |
Current Optic | |
Automated | |
Demanned | |
Construction | Chance Bros. Cast Iron Tower painted French Grey in colour with White Top. Later painted red |
Height | 9 m |
Elevation | 15 m |
Range | 6 nm |
Character | 1904: Fixed. Red. 1947: Fl. Red every second Current 2018: V.Q.R. |
Intensity | |
Light Source | |
Power Source | |
Operator | |
Custodian | |
Notes |
Access
The tower is not open to the public.
Site Access
The lighthouse can be accessed via N Mole Drive.
Tours
No tours are available.
Accommodation
No lighthouse accommodation is available
Museum
Detail to come.
Friends Group
There is no Friends Group
Associated Lighthouse
South Mole.
Links
Detail to come.
Sources
- Julie Taylor