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Lighthouses of New South Wales

State Indexes > NSW > Sugarloaf Point Lighthouse

Sugarloaf Point Lighthouse
Photograph: Annette Flotwell 		The Sugarloaf Point Lighthouse

The lighthouse is significant because it is the first major lighthouse by James Barnet.

It is also significant as it is only one of two towers in Australia with an external stairway.

Operation

LOCATION: Latitude 32° 26' 6"S. Longitude 152° 32' 4" (map)
OPERATOR: Australian Maritime Safety Authority
EXHIBITED: 1875
CONSTRUCTION: Rendered Brick
CHARACTER: Flashing 1 in 7.5 seconds
LIGHT SOURCE: 120V 1,000 Watt quartz halogen lamp
POWER SOURCE: Mains power, stand-by diesel
INTENSITY: 780,000 cd
ELEVATION: 79 metres
RANGE: 25 nautical miles
HEIGHT: 15 metres
AUTOMATED: 1987
DEMANNED: 1987
DEACTIVATED: No
CUSTODIAN: NSW Department of Lands
HERITAGE: Register of the National Estate, National Trust of Australia
SUB LIGHT: Red sector fixed light, light source 120V 1,000 Watt quartz halogen lamp

The Sugarloaf Lighthouse and cottages [Photograph: Ian Clifford]
The Sugarloaf Lighthouse and cottages
Photograph: Ian Clifford

History

The Sugarloaf Lighthouse was completed in 1875, ten years after it was first recommended a light be placed to highlight the nearby Seal Rocks. It was originally intended to place the light on Seal Rocks but landing was difficult the proposition was abandoned.

The tower is constructed of brick, rendered and painted white. Also constructed were three adjoining cottages, various outbuildings, the construction of the road from Bungwahl, and a 1500 foot long jetty which was used to land some 1800 tons of building supplies and materials..

The light was upgraded in 1923 and it would be assumed converted from kerosene to acetylene gas. Electricity was introduced in 1966 and the light was kept manned for many years despite automation in 1987.

Even today there is a caretaker on site.

One of Australia's biggest shipping disasters occurred of Sugarloaf Point;- the wreck of the Catterthun in 1895 when bound from Sydney to China with the loss of fifty five lives.

 

Keepers

We need your help in compiling a list of keepers for this lighthouse. If you have any information then send it to Web Keeper.

Please include this lighthouse's name, the keepers full name and what years they were keepers. Also include the same information for any other lights they were on.

 

Access

NEAREST TOWN: Seal Rocks
DISTANCE (Seal Rocks): 5 km
DISTANCE (Sydney): <<>>
ACCESS: Unsealed road. Once at the car park take the very scenic walk along the path to the lighthouse (7 min).
TOURS:

No. Reserve open to public. There is a lookout at the tower with a very scenic outlook.
ACCOMMODATION:

Sugarloaf Point Lighthouse Holiday Accommodation
Telephone: (02) 49976590
Email: stay@sealrockslighthouseaccommodation.com.au
Website: www.srla.com.au
Only two towers have external stairways [Photograph: Ian Clifford]
Only two towers have external stairways
Photograph: Ian Clifford

The red sector covering Seal Rocks [Photograph: Ian Clifford]
The red sector covering Seal Rocks
Photograph: Ian Clifford

The Surrounding Area

The Sugarloaf Point Lighthouse [Photograph: Ian Clifford]
The Sugarloaf Point Lighthouse
Photograph: Ian Clifford
The Sugarloaf Point Lantern 
Photograph: Ian Clifford

Features

Ian Clifford's Point Stephens & Sugarloaf Point Trip Bulletin Jan 00
Mark Sheriff - The Heart of the Matter Bulletin Jun 00
Marguerite & Nick Stephen's NSW Trip: Part 2 Bulletin Aug 01
Annette Flotwell's East Coast Lighthouse Trip: Part 3 Bulletin Sep 03
The huge Sugarloaf Point Lantern [Photograph: Ian Clifford]
The huge Sugarloaf Point Lantern 
Photograph: Ian Clifford

View from the balcony [Photograph: Ian Clifford]
View from the balcony
Photograph: Ian Clifford

Letters

Norah Head Lighthouse keeper - William Williams Bulletin Apr 03

The old weights are all that remains of the original clockwork mechanism [Photograph: Ian Clifford]
The old weights are all that remains of the original clockwork mechanism
 Photograph: Ian Clifford The modified winding mechanism with electric motor [Photograph: Ian Clifford]
The modified winding mechanism with electric motor
 Photograph: Ian Clifford

The view considered to be the next best thing to paradise [Photograph: Ian Clifford]
The view considered to be the next best thing to paradise
 Photograph: Ian Clifford

Other Sugarloaf Point Sites

The Sugarloaf Point Lightstation Grant Maizels
The Sugarloaf Point (Seal Rocks) Garry Searle
Sugarloaf Point Lighthouse (Seal Rocks) Snowgums to Sand
Seal Rocks Lighthouse Cartoscope

Inside the huge crystal lantern [Photograph: Ian Clifford]
Inside the huge crystal lantern
 Photograph: Ian Clifford


Aerial view of Sugarloaf Point Lighthouse
Photograph: Winsome Bonham

Special Thanks to:

  • Annette Flotwell for PhotographsIan Clifford for Photographs
  • Winsome Bonham for Photographs

Sources:

  • AMSA Brochure Brian LordIan Clifford Mark SheriffSnow Gums to Sand, Web Spun by Midac
  • The Sydney Morning Herald

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