Mersey Bluff Lighthouse

1888

1889

Australia

Hobart Marine Board

2nd order

Revolving

Active

Fl (4) WR 20secs

White tower with 4 vertical red stripes

The Mersey Bluff Lighthouse standing at the mouth of the Mersey River near Devonport is unusual in Australia with its distinctive vertical red striped day mark.

Tenders were called for the building of the lighthouse, a keeper's house, signal shed, tide house and flagpole in June 1888. The successful tenderers were Messrs T and F Duff. The lighthouse was designed by Huckson and Hutchison of Hobart. Work on the lighthouse started on October 16 1888, and was completed almost 12 months later on May 28 1889. The original Chance Bros. 4th order dioptric lens was first lit on 2nd August 1889, and used kerosene. The first lighthouse keeper was Mr W. Jacques, transferred from Swan Island. A second house was later built for the assistant keeper.

Constructed is of brick on a stone base. The lightstation originally included two brick houses, a signal shed, tide house and flagpole. Following conversion to automatic operation in 1920 and demanning the houses were sold to the Devonport Municipality in 1922. The houses were demolished in 1958 and 1961 respectively.

The current 16 metre tower replaced a succession of beacons and obelisks that had formerly stood on the site. It also replaced the earlier Don River light. In 1910 the original kerosene lamp was converted to acetylene gas which was supplied by a Colt seven-day acetylene generator. The light was converted to DC electric operation in 1920 with an acetylene burner as a back up lightsource. The light was demanned at the same time. Mains power was connected in 1978. The lighthouse retains it’s original Chance Bros fourth order lantern.

The establishment of the lighthouse ended a history of wrecks in this area. The Commonwealth assumed responsibility for the lighthouse under the Commonwealth Lighthouse Act in 1915 The station lightstation was also connected to town water in 1901.

The site of the lighthouse on the Mersey Bluff headland was originally occupied by a beacon which had disappeared by 1883. Following complaints from mariners an obelisk was placed there in late 1884. There was also a light at the mouth of the nearby Don River. It was removed when the Mersey Bluff Lighthouse became operational.

The Lighthouse was converted to hydro electricity with gas standby in 1952, and a 2nd order (700mm) fixed lens was installed. In 1978 it was further converted to all electric operation.

Australian Maritime Safety Authority

good

Open

Closed

-41.158745 146.35545 (List of Lights)

1. https://lighthouses.org.au/tas/mersey-bluff-lighthouse/
2. https://www.ibiblio.org/lighthouse/tas.htm

ARLHS AUS-108; Admiralty K3550; NGA 7032.

1. https://lighthouses.org.au/tas/mersey-bluff-lighthouse/
2. http://www.justimagine.com.au/state.asp
3. Chance Lighthouses (1856-1917) (61 years), David Encill's list 1856-95: Mersey Bluff (Two Leading Lights); 1888; Lights of the fourth order (fixed)