Cape Schanck Lighthouse
Chance Brothers Lighthouse
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Date of lens manufacture
1858, lens transported to Australia on the ship 'The Empire' in 1858
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Date of lighthouse construction
1859
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Country
Australia
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Commissioning body
Victorian Government - Lighthouse constructed by the Victorian Office of the Public Works
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Order of lens
1st order
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Fixed or revolving lens
Revolving
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Active/Inactive
Active
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Describe the character of light
Morse code letter N - dash, dot in 22.5 secs - Long flash: 10.8 sec, eclipse: 5.8 sec, Short Flash: 0.1 sec, Eclipse: 5.8 sec. Lens: Chance 920mm fr catadioptric, alternate 45° flash panels and drum lens segments. Red sector on south eastern side of lamp room Shore - 290 degrees, White 290 degrees to 130 degrees (200 degrees).
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Describe the lighthouses daymarks
White painted tower with red Cuppola (was originally painted red tower with white lamp room and cuppola, repainted white 1865). Distinctive bracketed gallery under lamp room balcony. White balcony rail. Weather vane on top of cuppola.
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Which aspects of the lighthouse (other than the lens) were manufactured by Chance brothers
Lantern pedestal - changed to Mercury float in 1915, clockwork mechanism, shutter arrangement
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Describe the history of the lighthouse
Light first illuminated on 30 June 1859 and every night thereafter. De-manned and fully auotomated since 1997. 1859 Chance Lens is the oldest original lens still operating in Australia. The original clockwork mechanism is still in place and in working condition although the lens is today turned by small electric motors. It rotates on the original mercury bath containing 11.7 litres of mercury. Site is managed by Parks Victoria, Lighthouse tours and Museum program run by Janice Haynes, The Lady of History.
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Current management body/ ports authority
AMSA Australian Maritime Safety Authority
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Historical preservation societies/manager/operator
Janice Haynes, The Lady of History
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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?
Kept in good condition and painting done by AMS Australian Maritime Services
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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
38° 29.5720' S 144° 53.1890' E
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On-site bookable accommodation available
no -
Associated web addresses
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Other details
Automated - 21/9/87 ARLHS AUS-045; Admiralty K2423; NGA 7456.
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Which resources did you use to research this lighthouses?
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Where?
