Coordinates: 33°51′16.64″S 151°13′33.69″E / 33.8546222°S 151.2260250°E / -33.8546222; 151.2260250

Fort Denison Light

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Fort Denison Light
File:Fort Denison 1.JPG
Fort Denison Light, 2006
Lua error in Module:Infobox_mapframe at line 197: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).
LocationFort Denison, New South Wales, Australia
CoordinatesLua error in Module:Coordinates at line 489: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).
Expression error: Unexpected < operator
Constructed1913
FoundationMartello Tower
Height20 feet (6.1 m)[1]
Shapecylindrical tower with balcony and lantern
Markingswhite tower and black lantern
OperatorSydney Harbour National Park
Fog signalbell, continuous[2]
Light
Focal height61 feet (19 m)
Range5 nautical miles (9.3 km; 5.8 mi)
CharacteristicFl (4) W 15s.

Expression error: Unexpected < operator

Fort Denison Light, also known as Pinchgut Light, is an active lighthouse located on top of a Martello Tower at Fort Denison, a former penal site and defensive facility occupying a small island on Sydney Harbour, New South Wales, Australia. The island is located downstream from the Harbour Bridge near Potts Point and the Royal Botanic Garden.

History

[edit | edit source]
File:PLJohnson Fort Denison Light detail4 bellfront.jpg
Fort Denison's lantern, bell and solar panel

The lantern and light, built in Birmingham, England, were added on top of the Martello Tower in 1913, replacing an 8 inches (20 cm) gun. The original light source was an acetylene gas carbide lamp, and it was converted to electricity by 1926. The station also includes a tide gauge, established in the mid-19th century, navigation channel markers, and a fog bell.

Renovation

[edit | edit source]

On 30 October 2003, the entire lightroom structure was removed for renovation. As the NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service curator Stephen Thompson said an airlift was the safest way, the lantern was transported to shore by a helicopter in a sling. Renovation took place at a workshop in the nearby St Peters. The entire operation was coordinated by the NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service, Port Authority of New South Wales and Australian Defence Industries.

For the renovation the structure was disassembled, paint was removed and new steel patches were welded onto corroded areas. A replica base ring was fabricated and hot riveted into place. The surface was then painted and treated against corrosion.

On 20 May 2004, the lantern was returned by helicopter and reinstalled.

Site operation

[edit | edit source]

The light is managed by the Port Authority of New South Wales. The site is managed by the NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service since 1992, as part of the Sydney Harbour National Park.

Visiting

[edit | edit source]

The island is accessible by boat. It is open for guided tours for a fee, requiring reservation. The tower is now open to the public.

References

[edit | edit source]
  1. ^ According to The Lighthouse Directory. 15ft according to "SeaSide Lights".
  2. ^ According to List of Lights and The Lighthouse Directory. Lighthouse Digest and Australia's audio and visual heritage online list a foghorn.
  • Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  • Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  • Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  • Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  • Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
[edit | edit source]

Error creating thumbnail: File missing Media related to Lua error in Module:Commons_link at line 62: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). at Wikimedia Commons

Lua error in Module:Authority_control at line 153: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).