Kiama Light

Kiama Light, also known as Kiama Harbour Light, is an active lighthouse in Kiama, New South Wales, Australia. The lighthouse is located close to the Kiama Blowhole on Blowhole Point, south of Kiama Harbour.

Kiama Light
Kiama Light
New South Wales
LocationKiama
New South Wales
Australia
Coordinates34°40′18.58″S 150°51′45.47″E
Year first constructed1887[1]
Automated1920
Foundationconcrete base
Constructionconcrete-clad brick tower
Tower shapecylindrical tower with balcony and lantern
Markings / patternwhite tower and lantern
Tower height51 feet (16 m)[2]
Focal height119 feet (36 m)
Original lens4th order Chance Brothers lens
Light sourcemains power
Intensity28,000 cd
Range16 nautical miles (30 km; 18 mi)[3]
CharacteristicFl (4) W 20s.[4]
Admiralty numberK2598
NGA number111-6496
ARLHS numberAUS-236
Managing agentNSW Maritime

History
Kiama Light c. 1926 showing the principal and assistant keepers' houses.

Tenders for the construction of the tower were called in 1886, ten years after Robertson Basin, a man-made basic, was opened in Kiama Harbour. The tower was commissioned on 1 January 1887. It was designed by Edward Orpen Moriarty MA MInstCE.

The light was established in 1887. The original apparatus was an oil burner with a catadioptric fixed lens and light intensity of 600 cd. The characteristic was fixed green and it was visible for 9 nautical miles (17 km; 10 mi). Two houses were constructed, a principal lighthouse keeper's house close to the tower, and a one-story assistant keeper's house a bit further.

In 1908 the power source was upgraded to coal gas with an intensity of 1,500 cd and a range of 15 nautical miles (28 km; 17 mi).

A report from 1913 says that the light is unwatched and the keeper's house is empty, though officially the station was only demanned in 1920. According to records, in 1920 the light was further upgraded to acetylene gas carbide lamp, the characteristic was changed to a group flashing and the light was automated.

The principal keeper's house was destroyed by vandals soon after this, though the other cottage remained as it was the residence of the harbour pilots.

in the 1920s. The assistant keeper's house was used for many years as the pilot's cottage and now serves as a museum and a tourist information centre.

In 1969 the light was electrified and connected to mains electricity, with a 120 V battery bank as backup. The current light source is a 120 V, 1000 W, quartz halogen lamp.

Structure

The foundation of the tower is a concrete slab, 14 feet (4.3 m) deep and 12 feet (3.7 m) in diameter.

The building is made of bricks, cemented outside and plastered within. Ascending the tower is done by three iron ladders leading from one storey to the next. The top of the structure is surrounded by an artistic railing.

The tower is surrounded by a hexagonal fence

Site operation

The lighthouse is managed by Roads and Maritime Services (formerly NSW Maritime). The museum is managed by the Kiama Historical Society.

Visiting

The site is accessible by road and parking is available. The museum is open on weekends, but the tower is closed to the public.

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See also

Notes
  1. According to all sources. Though NSW Maritime says 1867 in one column, it says 1887 in the text.
  2. According to all sources except NSW Maritime which says 15 m.
  3. According to List of Lights. Lighthouses of Australia Inc and NSW Maritime say 17 nautical miles.
  4. According to List of Lights and Lighthouses of Australia Inc. Rowlett says every 16s.

References
  • List of Lights, Pub. 111: The West Coasts of North and South America (Excluding Continental U.S.A. and Hawaii), Australia, Tasmania, New Zealand, and the Islands of the North and South Pacific Oceans (PDF). List of Lights. United States National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. 2009. p. 132.
  • Rowlett, Russ. "Lighthouses of Australia: New South Wales". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved 29 August 2010.
  • "The Kiama Lighthouse". Lighthouses of New South Wales. Lighthouses of Australia Inc.
  • Searle, Garry. "Kiama". Lighthouses of New South Wales. SeaSide Lights.
  • "Lighthouse Lights – NSW Maritime". maritime.nsw.gov.au. Retrieved 3 October 2010.

Media related to Kiama Light at Wikimedia Commons

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