Year first lit 1996 (current) First lit 1838 Automated 1996 Year first constructed 1838 | Deactivated 1996 (first) Range 48,152 m Phone +61 1300 827 727 | |
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Location Bruny IslandTasmaniaAustralia Construction rubble masonry tower (first)fiberglass tower (current) Tower shape conical frustum tower with double balcony and lantern (first) Markings / pattern white tower and lantern Hours Open today · 9:30AM–4:30PMThursday9:30AM–4:30PMFriday9:30AM–4:30PMSaturday9:30AM–4:30PMSunday9:30AM–4:30PMMonday(Eight Hours Day)9:30AM–4:30PMHours might differTuesday9:30AM–4:30PMWednesday9:30AM–4:30PM Similar South Bruny National, Cloudy Bay, Scotts Peak, The Neck Lookout, Mount Wellington | ||
Cape bruny lighthouse tasmania
The Cape Bruny Lighthouse is an inactive lighthouse located at the southern tip of Bruny Island, Tasmania, Australia.
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Cape bruny lighthouse tasmania
Features and location
It is the second oldest extant lighthouse tower in Australia, as well as having the longest (158 years) history of being continuously manned. It was first lit in March 1838 and was eventually decommissioned on 6 August 1996.
The project was commissioned by Governor George Arthur in 1835 after a series of shipwrecks south of Bruny Island and construction began in April 1836. The lighthouse was built by convict labour using locally quarried dolerite over two years. When first lit in March 1838 it was Tasmania's third lighthouse and Australia's fourth.
Cape Bruny was initially illuminated by a Wilkins lantern, consuming one pint of sperm whale oil per hour. In 1892, sperm oil was replaced by the better quality colza oil. In 1903 the original staircase was replaced and a cast-iron staircase was installed and the Wilkins lantern was replaced with a Chance Brothers lantern, which both remain in the tower today.
In December 2000 the light station area, including the lighthouse, became part of the South Bruny National Park. The lightstation was maintained by a permanent caretaker until 2011 when the Parks & Wildlife established a rotational volunteer caretaker program. Volunteers live on-site in the caretakers cottage for four-week periods, assisting with repairs and general maintenance.
In June 2012, the Tasmanian Government sought expressions of interest from commercial operators wishing to take over the operation and management of the Cape Bruny Light Station. No tender was awarded and the site is managed by the Parks & Wildlife Service with assistance from volunteers. Following the tender process, only one company began tours of the South Bruny National Park and Cape Bruny Light Station that takes tourists to visit the Cape Bruny Lightstation - Bruny Island Safaris The latter, Bruny Island Safaris, also operates tours inside the lighthouse tower.
An active light tower is located nearby on a fiberglass construction of 4 metres (13 ft) height. Its light characteristic is "Fl. 10 s", i.e. a white flash every 10 seconds. The lightsource emits from a focal plane at 93 metres (305 ft) above sea level.