Name and Location

The Green Cape Lighthouse is situated at the northern tip of Green Cape in Ben Boyd National Park, Bega Valley Shire, New South Wales, Australia. Its official address is 2086 Green Cape Lighthouse Road, with coordinates -37.2614804, 150.0495033.

Construction and History

The Green Cape Lighthouse was first lit on November 15, 1883, as a major coastal light to warn ships off the southern New South Wales coast. The construction period was from 1881 to 1883 under the Office of the Colonial Architect, led by James Barnet. The lighthouse is classified as Victorian-era industrial architecture and features a robust granite tower with attached engine room and keeper's quarters.

Architecture and Materials

The tower is made of locally quarried Cape Woolamai granite blocks, while the cast-iron lantern provides light to ships at sea. The height of the tower is 23 meters, with a focal plane at 35 meters above mean sea level.

Light and Navigation

The Green Cape Lighthouse displays a group-flashing white light (Fl(2)W.15s), with two white flashes every 15 seconds. The range of this light is approximately 17 nautical miles (31 kilometers). Initially powered by vaporized kerosene, the light was electrified in 1972 and automated in 1992.

Accessibility and Visiting

The tower interior is closed to the public due to asbestos materials and safety reasons. However, visitors can explore the surrounding precinct within daylight hours, which includes a picnic area, interpretive signage, and toilet block. Guided tours are offered by NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), while four historic keeper's cottages have been converted into self-contained holiday units.

Notable Views and Landscape

The lighthouse is located within Ben Boyd National Park, where visitors can enjoy rugged coastal heath, wildflowers in spring, and regular southern whale migrations visible offshore. Nearby attractions include Boyds Tower, Saltwater Creek picnic area, and Mimosa Rocks National Park to the north.

Anecdotes and Folklore

Oral histories recall the isolation and hardships faced by families stationed at Green Cape in the late 1800s, with tales of "mysterious lights" off the cape remaining local folklore. The centenary celebrations held in 1983 included restoration works on masonry and lantern.

Technical and Operational Details

The lighthouse is managed and staffed by NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) and has been fully automated since 1992. Remote monitoring is carried out via Marine Safety NSW, with no resident radar or AIS station on site. The light relies on standard coastal VHF broadcasts for navigation.

Further Information

For more information, please visit the Wikipedia page at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_Cape_Lighthouse.