RockyCapeLighthouse
4GW5+67 Rocky Cape TAS, Australia
Name and Location
The Rocky Cape Lighthouse is located at 4GW5+67 Rocky Cape TAS, Australia, situated on the northwestern coast of Tasmania.
Construction and History
The Rocky Cape Lighthouse was constructed in 1869 during the era of manual operation. The original lighthouse was automated in 1975, marking the end of an era of human keepers who maintained the light and surrounding infrastructure. A severe storm struck the Tasmanian coast in 1905, causing significant damage to the lighthouse and surrounding infrastructure.
Architecture and Materials
The lighthouse's architectural style is characterized by a distinctive tower with a white-painted exterior and a red-roofed keeper's residence. The structure was built using local materials, including sandstone and ironwork.
Light and Navigation
The light characteristic of the lighthouse is Fl (3) W.15s, indicating a white light with a period of 10 seconds and a range of 16 nautical miles. This light serves as an important aid to navigation for mariners traveling along the Tasmanian coast. Mariners navigating the Tasmanian coast can reference chart 3531 for information on the Rocky Cape Lighthouse's light characteristics and range.
Accessibility and Visiting
Visitors can access the site via the North Cave Track, which offers scenic views of the coastline and surrounding landscape. The site is open to visitors during daylight hours, with guided tours available upon request.
Notable Views and Landscape
From the top of the lighthouse, visitors can enjoy panoramic views of the Tasman Sea and the surrounding landscape, which includes rocky outcrops, sandy beaches, and dense forests.
Anecdotes and Folklore
The Rocky Cape Lighthouse has been shrouded in local folklore, with stories of ghostly apparitions and mysterious lights reported by visitors and lighthouse keepers over the years. While these tales are unsubstantiated, they add to the site's mystique and allure.
Technical and Operational Details
The lighthouse stands 64 meters tall and has a focal height of 56 meters above sea level.
- "Lighthouses of Tasmania" by R. M. Williams
- "Tasmania's Maritime Heritage" by J. H. C. Pocock
Details
| Name | RockyCapeLighthouse |
|---|---|
| City | |
| Country | Australia |
| Coordinates | -40.8544798, 145.5082036 |
| Year of construction | 1869 |
| Historic significance | Heritagesiteduetoitshistoricalsignificanceintheregion'smaritimehistory |
| Architectural style | Distinctivetowerwithawhite-paintedexteriorandared-roofedkeeper'sresidence |
| Construction material | Sandstoneandironwork |
| Focal height | 56metersabovesealevel |
| Tower height | 64meterstall |
| View description | PanoramicviewsoftheTasmanSeaandthesurroundinglandscape,includingrockyoutcrops,sandybeaches,anddenseforests |
| Light characteristic | Fl(3)W.15s,whitelightwithaperiodof10secondsandarangeof16nauticalmiles |