Nelson Head Light, also known as Nelson Head Inner Light, is an inactive, unusual
lighthouse
A lighthouse is a tower, building, or other type of physical structure designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lenses and to serve as a beacon for navigational aid, for maritime pilots at sea or on inland waterways.
Lighthouses mar ...
on Nelson Head, a
headland
A headland, also known as a head, is a coastal landform, a point of land usually high and often with a sheer drop, that extends into a body of water. It is a type of promontory. A headland of considerable size often is called a cape.Whittow, John ...
northeast of the town of
Nelson Bay, New South Wales
Nelson Bay is a significant township of the Port Stephens local government area in the Hunter Region of New South Wales, Australia. It is located on a bay of the same name on the southern shore of Port Stephens about by road north-east of Ne ...
, Australia, near Halifax Park, on the southern shore of
Port Stephens. The light guided ships into the port. Unlike other lighthouses, the Nelson Head Light has no tower, but was shown through the window of the lantern room, and later mounted outside.
History
The station was established in 1872 as four
kerosene lamp
A kerosene lamp (also known as a paraffin lamp in some countries) is a type of lighting device that uses kerosene as a fuel. Kerosene lamps have a wick or mantle as light source, protected by a glass chimney or globe; lamps may be used on a t ...
s shown from a wooden tower.
The current cottage was built three years later, and the light was first shown from it in 1876. The light was installed in an octagonal lantern room attached to the house, and shown through a window. The house was occupied by 14 successive resident keepers, and the Maritime Service Board, until 1985.
The light was electrified in 1946, and automated in 1984. Since 1986, the house has been preserved and maintained by the Nelson Head Lighthouse and Rescue Station Trust. In 1990, the
Royal Volunteer Coastal Patrol
Responsibilities for traditional coast guard duties in Australia are distributed across various federal, state and community agencies. The de facto coast guard of Australia is the Maritime Border Command, a joint command of the Australian Defen ...
was appointed as trustee. The house is now managed by
Marine Rescue NSW
Responsibilities for traditional coast guard duties in Australia are distributed across various federal, state and community agencies. The de facto coast guard of Australia is the Maritime Border Command, a joint command of the Australian Defe ...
, under the Royal Volunteer Coastal Patrol, and serves as a maritime museum.
In 1995 the light was replaced with a
solar power
Solar power is the conversion of energy from sunlight into electricity, either directly using photovoltaics (PV) or indirectly using concentrated solar power. Photovoltaic cells convert light into an electric current using the photovoltaic e ...
ed lantern which was attached outside the previous lantern room. In early 2003 the light was deemed unnecessary, and it was shut down.
Visiting
The house is accessible by road from Nelson Bay and is open daily to visitors.
See also
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List of lighthouses in Australia
This is a list of lighthouses and lightvessels in Australia.
Australia has a coastline of , with over 350 lighthouses and navigational aids around the Australian coastline, and a single inland lighthouse, the Point Malcolm lighthouse.
The firs ...
References and notes
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* Plaque on the site, can be seen in
External links
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The museum
{{Authority control
Lighthouses completed in 1875
Port Stephens Council
Lighthouses in New South Wales
1872 establishments in Australia