Warden Head
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Date of lens manufacture
1872
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Date of lighthouse construction
1873 (relocated here in 1879)
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Country
Australia
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Commissioning body
NSW Government
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Order of lens
4th order
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Fixed or revolving lens
Fixed
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Active/Inactive
Active
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Describe the character of light
Grp. Fl. White (2) 10 secs
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Describe the lighthouses daymarks
White tower and lantern
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Which aspects of the lighthouse (other than the lens) were manufactured by Chance brothers
Chance 4th order lantern
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Describe the history of the lighthouse
Originally built on the Ulladulla Breakwater in 1873, the light was relocated to Warden Head in 1879. The lighthouse was built in 1873 and was originally located at the entrance to Ulladulla harbour approximately 1.5km to the North West of Warden Head. It was designed in the Colonial Architect’s Office by Edward Moriarty to the same design as the Wollongong Breakwater Light. Joseph Mather won the contract to build both lighthouses, and Warden Head was built after he had completed the first of the two lighthouses at Wollongong Harbour. These two lighthouses were unusual in New South Wales in that they were made of curved wrought-iron plates riveted together using ship building techniques of the period rather than masonry or stone construction common to NSW lighthouses at the time. The wrought iron plates were manufactured and assembled in Mather’s yard at Darling Harbour in Sydney, they were then re-assembled on site. The tower is topped with a small ornate balcony with an iron handrail. The first apparatus was an oil wick lamp producing a light of 800 candelas. In 1920 the original oil lamp was replaced with an automatic flashing white light using acetylene gas and the light was demanned. The light was converted to electric operation on the 15th of May 1964. Incandescent lamps were replaced in November 2018 following extensive repairs to the tower. The 24 volt LED light source and Universal Lighthouse LED controller are supplied by mains electricity with battery back up.
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Current management body/ ports authority
NSW Maritime
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Historical preservation societies/manager/operator
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Is the site vulnerable to coastal erosion?
no -
Have you experienced any affects of climate change on the lighthouse?
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Observations on the condition of the lighthouse?
Extensive repairs were carried out on the light in 2018. It remains 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
Closed
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Latitude and Longitude
Lat. 35°21'56.07"S Long. 150°29'27.33"E
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On-site bookable accommodation available
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Associated web addresses
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Other details
ARLHS AUS-166; Admiralty K2584; NGA 6520.
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Which resources did you use to research this lighthouses?
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