History
Constructed of prefabricated concrete blocks in 1901, the Cape Byron Lighthouse stands on the most easterly point of the Australian mainland and is Australia's most easterly lighthouse. It is built in the James Barnet style, by his successor, Charles Harding. James Barnet, the New South Wales colonial architect, was renown for his towers having large ornate crowns and are easily distinguished.
The first-order optical lens, which weighs 8 tons, was made by the French company, Societe des Establishment, Henry Lepante, Paris. It contains 760 pieces of highly polished prismatic glass. The original concentric six wick burner was 145,000 cd. This was replaced in 1922 by a vapourised kerosene mantle burner which gave an illumination of 500,000 cd.
In 1956, the light became Australia's most powerful, at 2,200,00 cd when it was converted to mains electricity. At the same time the clock mechanism was replaced by an electric motor. An auxiliary fixed red light is also exhibited from the tower to cover Juan and Julian Rocks to the north east.
A great banquet was arranged for the opening in 1901 and many dignitaries, including the NSW Premier of the day John See, were invited. However due to adverse weather conditions the premiers ship was delayed by till the following day and the banquet was held without him. The opening by the Premier took place a day late on the Sunday. It is interesting to note that Cape Byron was named by Captain Cook after John Byron, grandfather of the famous poet.
Preservation
The ownership of the reserve was handed over to the Parks and Wildlife Service of New South Wales in 1997. The reserve was already under a lease to the Cape Byron Trust who maintain and secure the site and buildings. It is currently used as a base for whale watching.
Image by Mark Grey
The first-order optical lens, which weighs 8 tons, was made by the French company, Societe des Establishment, Henry Lepante, Paris. It contains 760 pieces of highly polished prismatic glass. The original concentric six wick burner was 145,000 cd. This was replaced in 1922 by a vapourised kerosene mantle burner which gave an illumination of 500,000 cd.
In 1956, the light became Australia's most powerful, at 2,200,00 cd when it was converted to mains electricity. At the same time the clock mechanism was replaced by an electric motor. An auxiliary fixed red light is also exhibited from the tower to cover Juan and Julian Rocks to the north east.
A great banquet was arranged for the opening in 1901 and many dignitaries, including the NSW Premier of the day John See, were invited. However due to adverse weather conditions the premiers ship was delayed by till the following day and the banquet was held without him. The opening by the Premier took place a day late on the Sunday. It is interesting to note that Cape Byron was named by Captain Cook after John Byron, grandfather of the famous poet.
Preservation
The ownership of the reserve was handed over to the Parks and Wildlife Service of New South Wales in 1997. The reserve was already under a lease to the Cape Byron Trust who maintain and secure the site and buildings. It is currently used as a base for whale watching.
Image by Mark Grey
Operation Information
LOCATION : Latitude 028° 38.4' S. Longitude 153° 38.1' E
OPERATOR : Australian Maritime Safety Authority
EXHIBITED : 1901
CONSTRUCTION : Concrete Blocks
CHARACTER : Flash white every 15.00 seconds
LIGHT SOURCE : 1000W 120 Volt tungsten halogen
POWER SOURCE : Mains Power
INTENSITY : 2,200,000 cd
ELEVATION : 118 metres
RANGE : 27 nautical miles (50 kilometres)
HEIGHT : 18 metres
CUSTODIAN : Cape Byron Trust
OPERATOR : Australian Maritime Safety Authority
EXHIBITED : 1901
CONSTRUCTION : Concrete Blocks
CHARACTER : Flash white every 15.00 seconds
LIGHT SOURCE : 1000W 120 Volt tungsten halogen
POWER SOURCE : Mains Power
INTENSITY : 2,200,000 cd
ELEVATION : 118 metres
RANGE : 27 nautical miles (50 kilometres)
HEIGHT : 18 metres
CUSTODIAN : Cape Byron Trust
Access
NEAREST TOWN : Byron Bay
DISTANCE : 3 km (Byron Bay):800 km (Sydney):175 km (Brisbane)
ACCESS : Located to the east of the Byron Bay township, it is accessible by foot, although with 500,00 visitors a year, car parking can be a problem.
TOURS : Yes
ACCOMMODATION : Yes
DISTANCE : 3 km (Byron Bay):800 km (Sydney):175 km (Brisbane)
ACCESS : Located to the east of the Byron Bay township, it is accessible by foot, although with 500,00 visitors a year, car parking can be a problem.
TOURS : Yes
ACCOMMODATION : Yes
The Light
The optical lens weighs 8 tonnes and was made by a french company - Societe des Establishment, Henry Lepante, Paris.It is a dioptric first-order bivalve double flashing lens and contains 760 pieces of highly polished prismatic glass.
The lens revolves on a bath of 7cwt mercury. The original light was a concentric six-wick kerosene burner with the intensity of 145,000 candles - 145,000 cd. This original illuminant was replaced in 1922 by a vaporised kerosene mantle burner, increasing the intensity from 145,000 cd to 500,000 cd.
The light was then converted to mains electricity in 1956, increasing the intensity to 2,200,000 cd and the clock mechanism was replaced by an electric motor. Before this it had been a weight driven mechanism, which works on a similar principle as that of a grandfather clock. An auxiliary fixed red light is also exhibited from the tower to cover Julian Rocks to the north.
The lens revolves on a bath of 7cwt mercury. The original light was a concentric six-wick kerosene burner with the intensity of 145,000 candles - 145,000 cd. This original illuminant was replaced in 1922 by a vaporised kerosene mantle burner, increasing the intensity from 145,000 cd to 500,000 cd.
The light was then converted to mains electricity in 1956, increasing the intensity to 2,200,000 cd and the clock mechanism was replaced by an electric motor. Before this it had been a weight driven mechanism, which works on a similar principle as that of a grandfather clock. An auxiliary fixed red light is also exhibited from the tower to cover Julian Rocks to the north.
Cape Byron Headland Preservation
The ownership of the reserve was handed over to the Parks and Wildlife Service of New South Wales in 1998. The reserve was already under a lease to the Cape Byron Trust who maintain and secure the site and buildings.
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