Point Perpendicular (Old)
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Date of lens manufacture
1896
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Date of lighthouse construction
1898
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Country
Australia
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Commissioning body
NSW Government
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Order of lens
1st order
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Fixed or revolving lens
Revolving
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Active/Inactive
Inactive
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Describe the character of light
Fl. Grp (3) W 20s
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Describe the lighthouses daymarks
White 21 metre tower located on the northern headland at the entrance to Jervis Bay
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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.
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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.
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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
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Historical preservation societies/manager/operator
Lighthouses of Australia operate the old light and conduct tours for special events.
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Is the site vulnerable to coastal erosion?
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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.
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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.
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Is the site open/closed to the public
Open
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Is the tower open/closed to the public
Open
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Latitude and Longitude
Lat. 35°05.73' S Long. 150°48.19' E
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On-site bookable accommodation available
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Associated web addresses
- https://lighthouses.org.au/nsw/point-perpendicular-lighthouse/
- https://www.visitnsw.com/destinations/south-coast/jervis-bay-and-shoalhaven/currarong/attractions/point-perpendicular-lighthouse-and-lookout
- https://www.ibiblio.org/lighthouse/nsws.htm
- https://lighthouses.org.au/nsw/point-perpendicular-lighthouse/
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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.
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Which resources did you use to research this lighthouses?
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When was the lens deactivated?
1994