Sea Hill Lighthouse, also known as Sea Hill Point Light[3] or Little Sea Hill Light,[4] is a lighthouse on the northwest point of Curtis Island, Gladstone Region, Queensland, Australia. Its purpose was to mark the east side of the entrance to Keppel Bay,[2] on passage to Fitzroy River and Port Alma.[1] The first lighthouse at the locations was constructed in 1873 or 1876, moved in the 1920s, and is now on display at the Gladstone Maritime Museum. A second lighthouse was constructed in 1895 and its state is unclear.[2]
 The first little Sea Hill Lighthouse, on display at the Gladstone Maritime Museum | |
 | |
| Location | Curtis Island Queensland Australia |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 23°29′27.5″S 150°58′49.4″E / 23.490972°S 150.980389°E |
| Tower | |
| Constructed | 1873[1] or 1876[2] (first) 1895 (second) |
| Construction | hardwood frame covered by corrugated galvanised iron tower |
| Height | 13 metres (43 ft) |
| Shape | conical tower with balcony and lantern |
| Markings | white tower, red lantern dome |
| Heritage | listed on the Queensland Heritage Register  |
| Light | |
| Deactivated | 2006? |
| Focal height | 33 metres (108 ft) |
| Characteristic | Fl (2) W 6s. |
History
editFirst lighthouse
editThe need for a lighthouse at this location was identified in 1864.[5] The first lighthouse, constructed in 1873[1] or 1876,[2][6] was the first in Queensland of its design, made of a hardwood frame clad with corrugated iron. This design was then used in seven more lighthouses, by order of establishment, Grassy Hill Light, Goods Island Light, Bay Rock Light, Old Caloundra Light, North Point Hummock Light (demolished), Gatcombe Head Light (demolished) and Bulwer Island Light.[4] With the installation of the second lighthouse in 1895 it became the front light in the range.[7] In the 1920s, the lighthouse was relocated to Station Point, about 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) northeast. It stood there until it was deactivated in the 1960s and then sold into private hands. It is currently on display at the Gladstone Maritime Museum at 23°50′4″S 151°15′37″E / 23.83444°S 151.26028°E.[2]
The lighthouse is rather short, only 20 feet (6.1 m) in height. Unlike the other seven Queensland lighthouse towers of the corrugated iron clad type, it is hexagonal in plan, rather than round. A gallery and a lantern top the tower, and much like other Queensland lighthouses, it is painted white with a red dome.[2]
Second lighthouse
editThe second lighthouse was constructed in 1895 and for a while served as the rear light in the range.[7] It is a 12-metre-high (39 ft),[8] timber framed zinc-annealed,[3] corrugated iron clad tower, with a lantern and a balcony. The original optical apparatus was a 4th order fixed lens with kerosene wick burner.[citation needed] In 1930[citation needed] the light was converted to an open flame acetylene gas burner, with sun valve and flasher, which operated at least until 1975.[3] By 1977 the original lens had been removed and a solar powered Tideland ML-300 electric beacon installed.[citation needed] A pilot station was established on the foreshore nearby in 1919[citation needed] and was closed in 1963.[2]
The current state of the lighthouse is unclear. There are reports that the lighthouse was deactivated in 2006.[9] While there were reports that it was demolished in early 2009, other reported that it was standing in 2014.[2] The 2018 List of Lights lists a light at the location, 39-foot-high (12 m) with a focal plane of 109 feet (33 m), displaying a light characteristic of two white flashes every six seconds (Fl.(2)W. 6s).[10]
See also
editNotes
edit- ^ a b c Plaque.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Rowlett.
- ^ a b c AHD101513.
- ^ a b QHR31351.
- ^ "ROCKHAMPTON". Maryborough Chronicle, Wide Bay and Burnett Advertiser. Vol. IV, no. 169. Queensland, Australia. 11 February 1864. p. 1 (Maryborough Chronicle, SUPPLEMENT). Retrieved 1 April 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ QHR31935.
- ^ a b Davenport 1986.
- ^ AHD101513. Rowlett states "around 43 feet (13 m)".
- ^ Rowlett. AHD101513 states it was deactivated "16-8-75".
- ^ List of Lights
References
edit- List of Lights, Pub. 111: The West Coasts of North and South America (Excluding Continental U.S.A. and Hawaii), Australia, Tasmania, New Zealand, and the Islands of the North and South Pacific Oceans (PDF). List of Lights. United States National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. 2018. p. 209.
- Rowlett, Russ. "Lighthouses of Australia: Southern Queensland". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved 14 November 2010.
- "Caloundra Lighthouses (entry 602746)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
- "Little Sea Hill Lighthouse (entry 602784)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
- Plaque next to the lighthouse at Gladstone Maritime Museum.
- "Sea Hill Point Lighthouse, Curtis Island, QLD, Australia (Place ID 101513)". Australian Heritage Database. Australian Government.
- Davenport, Winifred (1986). Harbours & Marine: Port and Harbour Development in Queensland from 1824 to 1985. Brisbane: Department of Harbours & Marine.