Point Perpendicular (Old)

Chance Brothers Lighthouse Chance Brothers Lighthouse
  • Date of lens manufacture

    1896

  • Date of lighthouse construction

    1898

  • Country

    Australia

  • Commissioning body

    NSW Government

  • Order of lens

    1st order

  • Fixed or revolving lens

    Revolving

  • Active/Inactive

    Inactive

  • Describe the character of light

    Fl. Grp (3) W 20s

  • Describe the lighthouses daymarks

    White 21 metre tower located on the northern headland at the entrance to Jervis Bay

  • Which aspects of the lighthouse (other than the lens) were manufactured by Chance brothers

    First order lantern, original lens drive system and six-wick concentric oil burner with a twelve gallon lamp.

  • Describe the history of the lighthouse

    Built to replace the inaccurately placed Cape St George Lighthouse, the 21 metre tower & cottages, the first of three similar towers, Cape Byron 1901 & Norah Head 1903, were designed by Charles Harding. They are considered a close parody of his predecessor, James Barnett’s work. It was the first lighthouse in Australia to be constructed of pre-cast concrete blocks – made on site from local aggregate – lifted into position above a mass concrete base. The contractor Edward Kelly undertook the work for 20,280 pounds.

    This new building technique eliminated the use of formwork used for the construction of mass concrete structures reducing cost & construction time. It also has the advantage of obviating disfiguring cracks caused by shrinkage of material on mass concrete buildings. Whilst common in other parts of the world this construction technique was new to the colony. Point Perpendicular was lit for the first time on the 1st May 1899 by the first head keeper William Parker who had transferred from Cape St George. On the 3rd of January 1994 after 94 years of service the light replaced by a “lattice” style tower and solar powered beacon and the lightstation demanned.

  • Current management body/ ports authority

    Department of Defence Navy maintain the lighthouse, Australian Maritime Safety Authority operates the solar powered beacon which replaced the lighthouse

  • Historical preservation societies/manager/operator

    Lighthouses of Australia operate the old light and conduct tours for special events.

  • Is the site vulnerable to coastal erosion?
    no
  • Have you experienced any affects of climate change on the lighthouse?

    The location and elevation of the light at 75 metres provides protection from the ocean.

  • Observations on the condition of the lighthouse?

    A major restoration of the lighthouse was undertaken by the custodian, the Department of Defence in 2012. On going maintenance has kept the structure in good condition.

  • Is the site open/closed to the public

    Open

  • Is the tower open/closed to the public

    Open

  • Latitude and Longitude

    Lat. 35°05.73' S Long. 150°48.19' E

  • On-site bookable accommodation available
    no
  • Associated web addresses
  • Other details

    The lighthouse can be reached via Nowra and is at the end of the Beecroft Peninsula in the Jervis Bay Military Reserve. Access is restricted 110 days per year for range exercises, open weekends and public holidays. The lighthouse reserve is a 200 metre walk from car park.

    Admiralty K2588; NGA 6504.

  • Which resources did you use to research this lighthouses?
    ---
Inactive Chance Lens Inactive Chance Lens
  • When was the lens deactivated?

    1994

added on June 13, 2022
Made In Smethwick: Lighthouses Around the World

In the 1800s, Chance Brothers & Co glassworks in Smethwick began making the hi-tech lenses that lighthouses use to warn ships of dangerous locations. By 1951, over 2,500 lighthouses around the world were fitted with a Chance lens.

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