Norah Head, New South Wales

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Lighthouse (1903)

Norah Head is a magnificent headland on the Central Coast, New South Wales, Australia, south of Newcastle and towards Sydney. The nearest main town is Toukley where there is lots of accommodation. It is a beautiful lighthouse with extremely scenic views, and is a popular spot for weddings with a marriage celebrant - the celebrant can tell you how to book your wedding and the Norah Head lighthouse or any other scenic spot on the Central Coast [1]

It has been the site of a significant lighthouse, a 27 metre tower, built in 1903 at the instigation of Edward Hargraves of Norahville after considerable numbers of ships foundered on the coast near the headland. Originally powered by a kerosene vapour lamp and featuring a crystal Fresnel lens suspended in a mercury ring and turned by weights, the light was electrified in 1961 and fully automated in 1995. The light flashes once in 30 seconds, and is visible to 27 nautical miles.

The former lighthouse keeper's cottages (Head Keeper's separate cottage and two assistants semi-detached quarters) are maintained, and are available for rent.

Merchant navy memorial

It was the site of sea battles between the Japanese Navy and Merchant navy ships in World War II: Two ships were sunk, Nimbin (1067 tonnes) by a mine on 5 December 1940 and BHP's Iron Chieftain (4877 tonnes) by a submarine on 3 June 1942. The Age (4775 tonnes) was also attacked on 3 June 1942.