Lighthouses of Tasmania Presentation

8/3/2019 Lighthouses of Tasmania Presentation

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As a sailor I am fond ofLighthouses as they guide ournight time voyages. They are

beautiful but functionalstructures. The preservation of

those Lighthouses that remain isvery important both historically

and culturally.


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The Iron Pot Lighthouse was the first built in Tasmania in 1832 as a wooden structure

and manned by convicts. It is the second oldest in Australia and the oldest original towerin Australia, also the first lighthouse to go solar. The existing tower was built around thewooden structure by 1833. It was renamed the Derwent Lighthouse in 1884 but to thisday is known by all sailors as the Iron Pot. The light celebrated its centenary in 1932and is know for its unique shape and blackwood stairs.


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The Cape Bruny Light is inthe Tasman National Park andmaintained by volunteer

keepers.William Bligh was responsible

for the first Apple seeds beingplanted on Bruny Island whenhe landed near to where thelight is today.


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The light on Maatsuyker Island is Australiasmost southerly light and was built in 1891 at acost of 8,500.

Weather observations have beencontinuously maintained from the light since1891. Weather observations were done four

times a day, both visually and with theinstruments.

The observations were necessary for fishing,flying, search & rescue.

The light is battered byconstant gale force winds of

50-60 knots They used carrier pigeon atthe light until 1912 at a cost of13.00 per annum. http://dl.nfsa.gov.au/module/1428/
http://dl.nfsa.gov.au/module/1428/http://dl.nfsa.gov.au/module/1428/http://dl.nfsa.gov.au/module/1428/


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Hells gate or BonnetIsland light is at thenarrow entrance toMacquarie Harbour andwas first manned byconvicts from Sarahisland penal settlement.

Today the existing light isweatherboard and solarpowered

The Cape Sorrell light nolonger exists but wasknown as the Lady ofAustralian lighthousesdue to the hour

glass shape. The light cost5,580 to build. Abel Tasmanlanded at CapeSorrell on 25 Nov1642 and namedthe land AnthonyVan Diemens land. The light was the 3rd

largest in Australia.


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Table Cape Lighthouse was builtin 1888 along with the cottages.The materials were bought tosite by bullock teams fromWynyard 7 km away.

It stands on a sheer cliff edgesurrounded by the scenicfarmlands of North WesternTasmania.

Rocky Cape light

was built in 1968 inRocky Cape NationalPark and is anunusual square tower.


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The Mersey Bluff Light was builtin 1889 at a cost of:

1700.00 for the tower 650.00 head keepers cottage 540.00 assistant keepers hut.

The Mersey Bluff light has theunusual day marks of verticalstripes. The only light inAustralia to be painted in this

way.


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Low Head is Australias oldestcontinuously used Pilot stationand was built in 1805.

The lighthouse was not built until1833 and had the keepers

quarters attached, the only one inTasmania to do so.

After 50 years in 1888 theoriginal convict built tower waspulled down and in the sameyear replaced by the presenttower.

In 1929 Tasmanias only Foghorn

was installed at the light stationand is still sounded today by thevolunteers who run the Pilot

Station Museum


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CAPE WICKHAM & CURRIEDEAL, GOOSE & SWAN

ISLANDS

Cape Wickham light was established in1861 and is Australia and the SouthernHemispheres tallest light having 11

flights of stairs of 20steps each. It marks the dangerouswestern entrance to BassStrait called eye of theneedle. The Currie light has theonly official historic building

on the register of the nationalEstate on King Island, beingThe keepers residence whichIs used as the local museum.

Deal Island Light isthe highest in Australiabeing at an elevation of 305m.

It is maintained byvolunteer keepers and is also claimed byVictoria as the island can be placed ineither state. The Commanders cottage is now a

museum. Goose Island light used silvered

mirrors. Swan Island light also had silvered

mirrors and in 1869 had them sent toEngland to be re-silvered.


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Eddystone point light is made oflocal granite and has never beenpainted. The door is approached by abeautiful flight of steps in the formof a flying buttress. The tower celebrated its

centenary in 1989.

Eddystone lighthouse is in theMount William National Park.


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The light at CapeTourvile is in theFreycinet Nationalpark.

It replaced the light atCape Forrestier in1971.

There is an easyboardwalk around thelighthouse and cliffs.


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Point Home Lookout lightwas constructed in 1971 forthe woodchip carriersentering Port Triabunna.

It has always been an

automatic light and thereforehas never been manned.

Tasman Island light hascurved steel plates made inEngland which was shiftedto the island by boats andhoisted to the landing stage

via a flying fox from ship toisland, then hauled byengine driven winch along asteep tramline, then horsedrawn tram line. Nowsupplies etc are flown in by

helicopter. The light was built in 1906. Powered by wind generators

in 1976 and replaced bysolar in 1991.


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The first Admiralty chart of Tasmania couldnt

be drawn until Bass & Flinders were releasedafter being held in Mauritius by the French for

14years, to delay publication of the chart.Because the finishing of the chart would give

official sovereignty of Tasmania to the British,as whatever country draws in the final part of achart has sovereignty over the land drawn.This Rule still stands today.

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Lighthouses of Tasmania Presentation