Low Head Lighthouse
Low Head lighthouse
Photographer Erika Shankley
Chance Brothers Lighthouse
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Date of lens manufacture
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Date of lighthouse construction
1888 (station established 1833)
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Country
Australia. Tasmania
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Commissioning body
Commonwealth Lighthouse Service; Consolidated Marine Board
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Order of lens
3rd order
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Fixed or revolving lens
Revolving
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Active/Inactive
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Describe the character of light
Fl (3) W 30 secs
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Describe the lighthouses daymarks
White tower with red horizontal stripe
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Which aspects of the lighthouse (other than the lens) were manufactured by Chance brothers
Lantern room, Fog horn, lamp
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Describe the history of the lighthouse
The original light n the lighthouse at Low Head was first exhibited on 27 December 1833. Designed by Colonial Architect John Lee Archer, it was Australia's 3rd lighthouse and Tasmania's 2nd. It was built by Huckson and Hutchison of Hobart and was first known as the George Town Station. The station is situated 7km North of Georgetown and 50 km from Launceston on the East side of the Tamar River.
The original keepers quarters were designed by William Moriarty and consisted of four rooms each. The quarters were attached to either side of the tower, the only lighthouse in Tasmania with attached quarters. The structure, 15.25 metres (50 feet) from the base to the top of the lantern, was erected by Mr Walmsley of Launceston.
The lantern was constructed at the Launceston Timber Yard, and the original lamps and reflectors were manufactured by Mr William Hart. He supplied "six dozen lamps, including reflectors, at three shillings and sixpence each", and burned sperm whale oil. In 1835 a revolving shutter, rotated by a clockwork mechanism was installed and in 1838 the original reflectors and Argand lamps were replaced by a catoptric system sourced from Wilkins and Co of London.
However, the tower was falling into disrepair, and it was necessary to rebuild it in 1888. The original convict-built stone tower was pulled down and replaced with the present double brick structure, and painted white. The new tower utilised the original revolving catoptric apparatus. Commander Brewis, in his report of 1912, recommended a dioptric 3rd Order lens with 55mm incandescent mantle, burning kerosene. The new lens supplied by Chance Bros. cost of £1,348 13s and was installed in 1916.
An auxiliary light was added in 1898. This was a two-wick lamp from Chance Brothers, which showed a red warning light over Hebe Reef from a window about 20 feet below the main light. The reef is named after the ship Hebe sailing from Madras, with Indian goods for Port Jackson. Since that time 9 other vessels have been lost on the reef. The last was the BHP chartered Iron Baron on 10 July 1995, nearing the end of a voyage from Groote Eylandt with a load of manganese ore. All crew were safely evacuated and on July 16 it was refloated and moved offshore. Inspections confirmed major structural damage and it was towed to a site 85km east of Flinders Island where it was sunk on 30th July. On January 5 1926 a broad red band was painted around the middle of the tower to increase visibility during daylight hours.
A fog-horn operated by compressed air was installed in a shed near the tower in April 1929. It gave three blasts every minute in the following pattern: a blast of 1.4 seconds followed by a 2.5-second silence; a blast of 1.3 seconds followed by another 2.5 second silence; finally a 1.3-second blast followed by a silence of 51 seconds. There were reports of its having been heard from a distance of 9.6 km at sea and 32 km on land. It was discontinued in August, 1973, but has since been restored and is operated on most Sundays at 12 noon. The Fog-horn, a type "G" diaphone and the Gardner engine is said to be the only fully operational system left in the world. It was manufactured by Chance Bros. Birmingham. In addition to the fog horn, the keepers were also responsible for the monitoring of the Tamar Leading Lights which had been initially manned.
Low Head was also a rear leading light with a small light at Dotterell Point, for vessels departing Pt Dalrymple On April 12, 1937, (some references indicate 1941) hydro-electric power was switched on at the station and the kerosene burner was replaced by a 500 watt electric globe. The clockwork mechanism was also replaced by an electric motor. Candle-power increased to 350,000. Just prior to 1950, the light was converted to mains power, and the lighthouse de-manned.
From 1865 to 1912, the light was under the control of Alfred C. Rockwell and his son Alfred Rockwell Jnr, for a period of 47 years!
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Current management body/ ports authority
Australian Maritime Safety Authority
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Historical preservation societies/manager/operator
Low Head Pilot Station Maritime Museum
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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?
good
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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: 41° 03.3355' S Long: 146° 47.3652' E
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On-site bookable accommodation available
yes -
Associated web addresses
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Other details
The 19 m tower is 43 m above sea level. A museum is located in the old Pilot Station buildings a short distance up river from the lighthouse. Accommodation is available in two of the light keeper's houses & the the Pilot Station
ARLHS AUS-101; Admiralty K3566; NGA 7088.
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Which resources did you use to research this lighthouses?
Where?
