Name and Location

Smoky Cape Lighthouse is an active coastal light located on the mid-north coast of New South Wales, Australia. Its address is 446 Lighthouse Road, Arakoon NSW 2431, and its coordinates are 30°55′22″S, 153°05′15″E (–30.92285, 153.08749).

2. Construction and History

Smoky Cape Lighthouse was officially commissioned in 1891 and designed by James Barnet, the New South Wales Government Architect. The construction period was from 1889 to 1891. The first light was exhibited on February 1, 1891. Originally powered by vaporised kerosene, it was converted to electric in 1963. Automation was achieved in 1973, and today it is remotely monitored by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA). Until automation, the lighthouse was staffed with keepers who lived on site with their families.

3. Architecture and Materials

The lighthouse's design style is Late-Victorian Classical, featuring a tapered cylindrical tower with a gallery and lantern. The tower stands approximately 21 meters above ground level and has a focal height of 128 meters above mean sea level. The materials used include locally quarried granite blocks for the tower, cast-iron for the lantern room, and concrete floor slabs.

4. Light and Navigation

The characteristic of the light is a group flashing three white every 20 seconds (Fl (3) W 20 s). The sequence detail is approximately: 0.1 s flash + 3.1 s eclipse + 0.1 s flash + 3.1 s eclipse + 0.1 s flash + 13.5 s eclipse. The range of the light is 25 nautical miles (~46 km). The original Fresnel apparatus was replaced by modern optics, and the current lamp type is a 1,000 W metal-halide.

5. Accessibility and Visiting

The lighthouse tower's interior is closed to general public access, but an exterior viewing platform and interpretive signage are available. The two former keeper's cottages have been refurbished as self-contained holiday accommodation (bookings via NSW National Parks). Facilities at the carpark include picnic tables, barbecue, and public toilets.

6. Notable Views and Landscape

The surrounding environment is part of Arakoon National Park, featuring coastal heath, walking tracks, and bird-watching opportunities. Nearby attractions include Trial Bay Gaol Historic Site (4 km south), Tacking Point Lighthouse (South West Rocks) (6 km south), Secret Beach, and Trial Bay Beach.

7. Anecdotes and Folklore

The lighthouse was constructed in response to a spate of wrecks in the area. Oral histories recall severe storms cutting supply lines, with keepers' children sometimes schooled in a small on-site schoolroom. There is also a rumoured "ghost light" seen by staff on foggy nights – likely an atmospheric mirage.

8. Technical and Operational Details

The lighthouse's managing authority is the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) for the light, and NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service for the cultural precinct. The official website is [www.amsa.gov.au](http://www.amsa.gov.au), and further reading can be found in Anderson's "The Lighthouses of New South Wales" (1980) and the National Trust of Australia (NSW) brochure "Lighthouse Precincts in NSW".