Name and Location

The Table Cape Lighthouse, also known as "Table Cape Light", is a major coastal beacon situated on the summit of Table Cape, north-west Tasmania, Australia. The official street address is 105 Lighthouse Road, Table Cape TAS 7325, with coordinates 40°56′47″S, 145°43′45″E.

Construction and History

The Table Cape Lighthouse was first lit on December 1, 1888, after being built between 1887-1888. The Tasmanian Public Works Department designed the lighthouse, which is a Victorian-era cylindrical tower with a gallery and lantern. The construction materials used were brickwork with cement rendering and cast-iron lantern room.

Architecture and Materials

The tower stands at approximately 12 meters (39 feet) tall, with an exterior finish of white stucco and a red lantern roof. The lighthouse is situated atop a hill that is 206 meters above sea level, giving it a focal height of 218 meters.

Light and Navigation

The light source is an automated electric beacon with a characteristic of two flashes every 10 seconds, emitting white light with a range of 18 nautical miles. There are also red sector warnings, flashing for 14 nautical miles in bearings between 090°-138° and 296°-340°.

Accessibility and Visiting

The lighthouse tower itself is closed to the public, but the grounds and former keeper's quarters are open as a small museum. Visitors can access the site via a sealed road from Wynyard and park adjacent to the keeper's cottages. The visitor centre operates on Wednesdays-Sundays, 10:00-16:00, with admission fees applying.

Notable Views and Landscape

The surrounding landscape offers panoramic views of Bass Strait, coastal headlands, winter wildflowers, and Spring tulip fields. Visitors can also explore the adjacent Table Cape Tulip Farm during the season (best in October) or venture to Rocky Cape National Park, a 20-minute drive north.

Anecdotes and Folklore

The summit often experiences low cloud and sea-mist ("mizzle"), giving the lighthouse a ghostly appearance to passing ships. Former keepers recorded occasional visits by bushrangers in the 1890s (unsubstantiated folklore).

Technical and Operational Details

The lighthouse was originally manned by resident keepers until 1970, when it became automated. A solar-powered backup was installed in the 1990s, and the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) manages the site.

Further Information

For further reading and references, please visit the Wikipedia page or consult the Australian Heritage Database, Tasmanian Heritage Register, Australian Maritime Safety Authority's "List of Lights" publication, and Winifred H. Harrisson's book "Lighthouses of Tasmania".