Fort Denison Light

Fort Denison Light

Fort Denison Light, 2006
New South Wales
Location	Fort Denison New South Wales Australia
Coordinates	33°51′16.64″S 151°13′33.69″E / 33.8546222°S 151.2260250°E / -33.8546222; 151.2260250Coordinates: 33°51′16.64″S 151°13′33.69″E / 33.8546222°S 151.2260250°E / -33.8546222; 151.2260250
Year first constructed	1913
Foundation	Martello Tower
Tower shape	cylindrical tower with balcony and lantern
Markings / pattern	white tower and black lantern
Height	20 feet (6.1 m)[1]
Focal height	61 feet (19 m)
Range	5 nautical miles (9.3 km; 5.8 mi)
Characteristic	Fl (4) W 15s.
Fog signal	bell, continuous[2]
Admiralty number	K2666
NGA number	111-6224
ARLHS number	AUS-235
Managing agent	Sydney Harbour National Park

Fort Denison Light, also known as Pinchgut Light, is an active lighthouse located on top of a Martello Tower at Fort Denison, a former penal site and defensive facility occupying a small island in Sydney Harbour, New South Wales, Australia. The island is located downstream from the Harbour Bridge near Potts Point and the Royal Botanic Gardens. The fort is also known as "Pinchgut" lending its name to the light.

Fort Denison's lantern, bell and solar panel

History

The lantern and light, built in Birmingham, England, were added on top of the Martello Tower in 1913, replacing an 8 inches (20 cm) gun. The original light source was an acetylene gas carbide lamp, and it was converted to electricity by 1926. The station also includes a tide gauge, established in the mid-19th century, navigation channel markers, and a fog bell.

Renovation

On 30 October 2003 the entire lightroom structure was removed for renovation. As the National Parks and Wildlife Service curator Stephen Thompson said an airlift was the safest way, the lantern was transported to shore by a helicopter in a sling. Renovation took place at a workshop in the nearby St Peters. The entire operation was coordinated by National Parks, the Sydney Ports corporation and Australian Defence Industries.

For the renovation the structure was disassembled, paint was removed and new steel patches were welded onto corroded areas. A replica base ring was fabricated and hot riveted into place. The surface was then painted and treated against corrosion.

On 20 May 2004 the lantern was returned by helicopter and reinstalled.

Site operation

The light is managed by the Sydney Ports corporation. The site is managed by the National Parks and Wildlife Service in the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water since 1992, as part of the Sydney Harbour National Park.

Visiting

The island is accessible by boat. It is open for guided tours for a fee, requiring reservation. The tower is now open to the public.

See also

• List of lighthouses and lightvessels in Australia

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Fort Denison Light.

References and notes

External links

• "List of Lighthouses of New South Wales". Lighthouses of Australia. Lighthouses of Australia Inc. 

Lighthouses of New South Wales and Jervis Bay Territory
North Coast	Fingal Head Cape Byron Richmond River Clarence River North Solitary Island South Solitary Island Smoky Cape Tacking Point Crowdy Head Sugarloaf Point Nelson Head Point Stephens Nobbys Head Norah Head
Outside Sydney Harbour	Barranjoey Hornby Macquarie Cape Baily
Inside Sydney Harbour	Grotto Point Bradleys Head Fort Denison Robertson Point Parriwi Head Eastern Channel Western Channel Vaucluse Bay - Front Vaucluse Bay - Rear Shark Island
South Coast	Wollongong Head Wollongong Breakwater Kiama Crookhaven Heads Point Perpendicular Cape St George Warden Head Burrewarra Point Montague Island Green Cape
See also List of lighthouses and lightvessels in Australia