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Cape Byron Lighthouse, also known as Byron Bay Lighthouse, is located at 1 Lighthouse Rd, Byron Bay NSW 2481, Australia. Its official coordinates are 28°38′18.82″ S, 153°38′10.80″ E (–28.6385613, 153.6363335). You can find it on the map link: https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-28.6385613&mlon=153.6363335#map=17/-28.63856/153.63633.

Construction and History

The Cape Byron Lighthouse was constructed between 1899 and 1901, officially commissioned on December 1, 1901. The architect/designer was Charles Assinder Harding from the NSW Public Works Department. Its purpose was to mark the easternmost point of mainland Australia and guide coastal shipping.

Architecture and Materials

The lighthouse is a Federation-era structure with classical detailing. Its tower form is a circular tapered tower with a balcony and lantern. The materials used were locally quarried sandstone (Byron Bay district) for the tower and base, as well as cast-iron for the lantern room. The tower stands at 22 meters in height, while the focal plane is an impressive 118 meters above sea level, one of the highest in Australia.

Light and Navigation

The original lens was a first-order Fresnel lens (dioptric), manufactured by Chance Brothers, England. Today, the lighthouse uses a metal-halide lamp with automated lighting. Its light characteristic is three white flashes every 15 seconds (Fl (3) W 15s). The nominal range is 27 nautical miles, and its Admiralty reference is K 2838.

Accessibility and Visiting

The Cape Byron Lighthouse offers free public access to the grounds. Guided tours of the tower are available at scheduled times. The visitor centre features interpretive displays in the former keeper's quarters, managed by NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service. Opening hours for the grounds are daily from dawn to dusk; tower climbs and guided tours can be booked through the Byron Bay Visitor Centre. Facilities include a café, gift shop, parking, and accessible walkways.

Notable Views and Landscape

The lighthouse sits atop Cape Byron headland, surrounded by littoral rainforest remnant and coastal heath. The viewpoint offers a 360-degree panorama of the Pacific Ocean, five local beaches, and the hinterland ranges. It's also a seasonal whale migration outlook. Nearby attractions include Byron Bay township, Arakwal National Park, Wategos Beach, and Minyon Falls (Nightcap NP).

Anecdotes and Folklore

The Cape Byron Lighthouse has played host to numerous 19th-century shipwrecks in the surrounding Byron Bay shoals, prompting its construction. The Bundjalung people consider Cape Byron (Wajurda) a sacred site, the site of the Rain Spirit.

Technical and Operational Details

The lighthouse is automated since 1989. Its power supply comes from mains electricity with diesel generator backup. The managing authority is the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA). Today, its purpose remains as an active aid to navigation.

Further Information

• For more information, visit Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cape_Byron_Lighthouse or the Australian Heritage Database: https://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/ahdb/search.pl?mode=place_detail;place_id=106178.