Grotto Point Light

Grotto Point Light

File:Grotto Point Light.jpg Grotto Point Light
New South Wales
Location	Balgowlah Heights New South Wales Australia
Coordinates
Year first constructed	1910
Year first lit	1911
Construction	masonry and brick
Tower shape	cylindrical domed
Markings / pattern	white painted
Height	26 feet (8 m)
Focal height	61 feet (19 m)
Original lens	catadioptric
Range	12 nautical miles (22 km; 14 mi) white 9 nautical miles (17 km; 10 mi) red/green
Characteristic	light occulting four times every 15s; white on range, red right, green left, obscured other
Admiralty number	K2638
NGA number	111-6184
ARLHS number	AUS-087

Grotto Point Light, also known as Port Jackson Entrance Range Front Light, is an active lighthouse located at Grotto Point, a rocky headland at the southernmost tip of Balgowlah Heights, New South Wales, Australia, on the north side of Sydney Harbour. It serves as the front range light, Rosherville Light serving as the rear light, into Port Jackson. Rosherville Light is located almost exactly 1 mile (1.6 km) (1,690 yards (1,550 m) to be exact) behind Grotto Point Light.

History

File:Grotto Point Light 1939 2.png

An 1939 view of the lighthouse

The decision to build the range lights was taken in 1909. Construction began in 1910 and the light was first lit on September 1, 1911. It is one of four such lighthouses designed by architect Maurice Festu in a style now sometimes called "Disney Castle", the others being Rosherville Light, Vaucluse Bay Range Front Light and Vaucluse Bay Range Rear Light.

The original light source was a carbide lamp (acetylene gas) which was initially generated on-site, and later replaced by compressed gas cylinders brought by boat.

Later, the light was electrified and connected to the mains electricity.

Structure

The structure is a masonry and brick domed tower, attached to two barrel-vaulted service sections in decreasing heights, all pointed white. The structure is surrounded by a white picket fence. The light is shone through a 2 by 1 metre (6.6 ft × 3.3 ft) horizontal slit, about two thirds of the way up the tower.

The lens is a catadioptric apparatus.

Site operation

The light is operated by the Sydney Ports corporation while the site is managed by the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water as part of the Sydney Harbour National Park.

Visiting

The site is accessible by a short hike from Castle Rock track. The grounds are open but the tower is closed to the public.

See also

• List of lighthouses and lightvessels in Australia

External links

• [CC-By-SA]