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Lighthouses of Victoria |
| State Indexes > VIC > Point Lonsdale Lighthouse |
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The Point Lonsdale Lighthouse A vigil is kept by the still manned Point Lonsdale Lighthouse over the narrow entrance to Port Phillip Bay. The Rip, as it is known, is one of the most notorious entrances to any bay in the world. |
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This lighthouse is one of the few left that is staffed 24 hours a day. The base has an signal and observation room for the control of shipping through the Heads.
| LOCATION: | Latitude 38° 17' 6" S, Longitude 144° 36' 8" E (Map) |
| OPERATOR: | Port of Melbourne Corporation |
| CHARACTER: | Horizontal Beam Flashes twice every 15 seconds |
| LIGHT SOURCE: | 250 watt, 120 volt globes |
| POWER SOURCE: | Mains Power, Battery Backup |
| INTENSITY: | - |
| ELEVATION: | 36.6 metres above sea level |
| RANGE: | 12 nautical miles |
| HEIGHT: | 21.31 metres |
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History
Point Lonsdale received a signal station in 1852 to help ships negotiate its dangerous waters. Four years later, a red pillar beacon was built to warn of Lonsdale Rock. A wooden lighthouse from Shortland Bluff was then dismantled and re-erected at Point Lonsdale in 1863. The present lighthouse was built in 1902, but the earlier wooden lighthouse was not cut up for firewood until 1912. In 1915 the light passed from the Victorian State Government to Commonwealth control. It was handed back in 1934 and classified as a harbour entrance light rather than a "Coastal Highway Light". The base was altered in 1950 to provide an observation and shipping control room. This is possibly the last manned lighthouse in Australia. The lighthouse celebrated its centenary in 2002. |
 The Point Lonsdale Lighthouse before the signal station was added Photograph courtesy: Queenscliff Historical Society |
 The Point Lonsdale Lighthouse from the air Photograph: Winsome Bonham |
In 1997, the Point Lonsdale Lighthouse was given a facelift - the lighthouse was sandblasted, sealed and re- painted.
Lonsdale hides its light under a bushel for now
 The Point Lonsdale Centenary celebrations in April 2002 Photograph: Laurie Sharp |
 Denise Shultz and Malcolm Macdonald at the centenary celebrations Photograph: Laurie Sharp |
The lighthouse is a public reserve accessible by road and walking to the south of the Point Lonsdale township. The Lighthouse was being opened regularly on Sundays. Check with the Queenscliff Maritime Centre.
The
Point Lonsdale Lighthouse and signal station
Photograph: Ed Kavaliunas
The staircase in the Point Lonsdale Lighthouse
Photograph: Cyril Curtain
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Sources:
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last updated: Page created: |
19/03/05 3/12/97 |
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