Point Lowly Lighthouse
  Point Lowly lighthouse South Australia | |
| Location |
Point Lowly Eyre Peninsula South Australia  Australia |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 32°59′59.1″S 137°47′08.3″E / 32.999750°S 137.785639°ECoordinates: 32°59′59.1″S 137°47′08.3″E / 32.999750°S 137.785639°E |
| Year first constructed | 1883 |
| Year first lit | 1883 |
| Automated | 1973 |
| Deactivated |
1993-1995 2009-2010 |
| Construction | sandstone tower |
| Tower shape | conical frustum tower with double balcony and lantern |
| Markings / pattern | white tower and lantern |
| Height | 22.8 metres (75 ft) |
| Focal height | 23 metres (75 ft) |
| Light source | mains power |
| Intensity | 1,000,000 cd |
| Range | 26 nautical miles (48 km; 30 mi) |
| Characteristic | Group Flash 8 Every 40 Seconds |
| Admiralty number | K1948 |
| NGA number | 8524 |
| ARLHS number | AUS-103 |
| Managing agent | City of Whyalla |
The Point Lowly lighthouse was constructed in 1883 to guide ships safely through Spencer Gulf en route to Port Augusta and Port Pirie in South Australia. It was upgraded several times before being deactivated in 1993. It was reactivated in 1995 and is a tourist attraction for the Whyalla area and an icon of the Point Lowly area.
History
The lighthouse at Point Lowly was constructed in 1883 to guide ships traversing Spencer Gulf, en route to the northern ports of Port Augusta and Port Pirie. The lighthouse and its cottages pre-date the establishment of Whyalla and are the oldest European heritage structures in the Whyalla area.
The original tower was 15 metres in height and was made from local sandstone. The optical apparatus had an eight side catadioptric lens which revolved once every 80 seconds and gave a 2-second flash every 10 seconds. Supplies were brought to the lighthouse by boat from Port Pirie on the eastern shore of Spencer Gulf.
The structure was raised by 7.6 metres to its current height in 1909. The original mineral-oil fueled wick burner light was replaced by a kerosene vaporising light unit during the upgrade.
In 1973 the light was demanned. This followed the installation of a battery-powered Stone Chance Power Beam Beacon on the balcony.
In 1979, the lens and lamp were upgraded and the light was connected to mains electricity.
In 1983, the lighthouse and cottages received heritage listing.
In 1993, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority deemed the light to be unnecessary and the light was deactivated.
In 1995, the light was reactivated after community appeal and remains under the control of the Whyalla City Council.[1]
Current use
The Point Lowly Lighthouse is a popular icon of the upper Spencer Gulf region. It features in tourism literature, on billboards and was adopted as a logo by the community action group, Save Point Lowly.[2]
A 2.14 hectares (5.3 acres) reserve which includes the lighthouse, cottages and associated structures is listed on the South Australian Heritage Places database.[3] It was officially heritage listed in 1983.
The lighthouse cottages are available as rental accommodation, sleep up to 29 people and are managed by Whyalla's Uniting Church.[4] They are often used by recreational divers and marine scientists who visit the region's cuttlefish aggregation each winter.[5]
Between July and September 2014, the Whyalla City Council will be conducting an assessment of the buildings' condition, restoration needs, costs, resource and operating requirements. The council will investigate options to incorporate the cottages into a single business unit for visitation, tourism, education and cultural services and will consider potential outsourcing.[6]
See also
References
- ↑ Point Lowly Lighthouse Lighthouses of Australia Inc. Accessed 2014-01-01.
- ↑ Save Point Lowly website archive - National Library of Australia. Retrieved 2014-01-01.
- ↑ Heritage Places Database Search - Point Lowly Lighthouse Complex South Australian Government, Department of Planning Transport & Infrastructure. Retrieved 2014-01-01.
- ↑ Point Lowly Lighthouse Cottages VisitorsGuide.com.au Retrieved 2014-01-01.
- ↑ Point Lowly Brochure Flinders University Underwater Club (2009-09-01) Retrieved 2014-01-01.
- ↑ Gould, Eli (2014-07-31). "Future of Point Lowly cottages to be addressed". The Whyalla News (Whyalla, South Australia). Retrieved 2014-07-31.