:Archer Point Light

{{Short description|Lighthouse in Queensland, Australia}}

{{Use Australian English|date=March 2018}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2018}}

{{Infobox lighthouse

| name = Archer Point Light

| image = Archer Point Light, 2005.jpg

| caption = Archer Point Light, 2005

| location = Cooktown
Queensland
Australia

| coordinates = {{coord|15|35|37.51|S|145|19|42.83|E|display=inline,title}}

| yearbuilt = 1883 (first)

| yearlit = 1979 (current)

| automated = 1979

| yeardeactivated =

| foundation =

| construction = concrete tower

| shape = square prism equipment room with balcony and lantern

| marking = white lantern

| height = {{convert|19|ft}}

| focalheight = {{convert|213|ft}}

| lens =

| currentlens =

| intensity = 35,000 cd

| range = white: {{convert|17|nmi|km|abbr=on}}
green: {{convert|17|nmi|km|abbr=on}}
red: {{convert|13|nmi|km|abbr=on}}

| characteristic = Fl (4) WRG 20s.

| fogsignal =

| racon =

| managingagent = Australian Maritime Safety Authority

}}

Archer Point Light is an active lighthouse on Archer Point, a conical, {{convert|60|m|ft|adj=mid|-high}}{{sfn|Beach}} grassy headland about 29km southeast of Cooktown, Queensland, Australia. Originally an 1883 timber frame lighthouse covered with galvanised iron, it was replaced in 1975 with a modern square concrete equipment room topped with a lantern.{{sfn|Lighthouses of Australia Inc}}

History

File:Archer Point Light 1917.jpg

File:Archer Point plans, section and elevation, color, 1882.jpg

The station was established in 1883. The original lighthouse was a timber frame lighthouse covered in rolled galvanised iron sheeting, much like Low Isles Light{{sfn|Rowlett}} and Flat Top Island Light. It had four floors including the gallery floor, with ladders leading from one floor to the next.{{sfn|Plans}}

Together with a lighthouse on Rocky Island, now disused, the original light served as a lead light between Hope Islands and the mainland to the south, and between some reefs and the mainland to the north.{{sfn|Lighthouses of Australia Inc}}

In 1975 the current lighthouse was built, and was automated and electrically operated to begin with. The base of the old lighthouse still exists at the location.{{sfn|Lighthouses of Australia Inc}} The original lenses are now on display at the Queensland Maritime Museum.{{Cite web |url=http://www.maritimemuseum.com.au/ |title=QMMAWeb |website=maritimemuseum.com.au |accessdate=28 November 2010}}

Current light

The current lighthouse is a square concrete equipment room topped with a lantern.{{sfn|Rowlett}} It was the seventh and last of a group of seven concrete towers erected by the Commonwealth between 1964 and 1979. By order of construction the lights were Cape Capricorn Light, New Caloundra Light, Point Danger Light, New Burnett Heads Light, Fitzroy Island Light, Point Cartwright Light and itself.{{sfn|QHR31351}}

The light characteristic shown is four flashes separated by two seconds, every twenty seconds, White at 153°-276°, 305°-313° and 334°-338°, Green at 276°-305° and 320°-334°, Red at 313°-320° and 338°-358° (Fl.(4)W.R.G. 20s).List of Lights The white sector indicates the clear passage into the channel, while the red and green sectors indicate the ship is outside the channel.{{sfn|Lighthouses of Australia Inc}}

The current light source is a 35,000 cd 120 Volt 1000 Watt Tungsten-halogen bulb, fed from the mains electricity, with a diesel generator for backup.{{sfn|Lighthouses of Australia Inc}}

Site operation and visiting

The site and the light are operated by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority. The site is open to the public, accessible by a gravel road, but the tower is closed.{{sfn|Rowlett}}

See also

{{Portal|Queensland|Engineering}}

Notes

{{Reflist}}

References

{{Refbegin}}

  • {{cite ngall|111|2009|195}}
  • {{cite rowlett|qldn|accessdate=14 November 2010}}
  • {{cite loa|QLD|Archer%20Point|The Archer Point Lighthouse}}
  • {{Cite web |url=http://beachsafe.org.au/beach/qld0656 |title=Beach – Archer Point (north 1) |website=beachsafe.org.au |accessdate=15 November 2010 |ref={{sfnRef|Beach}} }}
  • {{cite web |url=http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/scripts/Imagine.asp?B=1717463 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121126230457/http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/scripts/Imagine.asp?B=1717463 |url-status=dead |archive-date=26 November 2012 |title=Tower plans |year=1882 |ref={{sfnRef|Plans}} }}
  • {{cite QHR|31351|Caloundra Lighthouses|602746 |accessdate=13 July 2015}}

{{Refend}}