Fingal Head Light

File:Fingal Head and keeper historic.jpg

The station was first established on 19 February 1872, a wooden pole structure of approximately {{convert|30|ft}}, holding a fixed kerosene wick burner{{sfn|Tweed Heads Historical Society}} which shone a fixed white light with an intensity of 1,000 cd.{{sfn|Lighthouses of Australia Inc}} It was described by a daughter of William Arnold, the first lighthouse keeper, as being shaped like a large meat safe, mounted on a wooden structure resembling a pigeon loft. The keeper had to row from the Tweed Heads Pilot Station each day and light the lantern at sunset, and a hut was constructed for him to stay in.{{sfn|Tweed Heads Historical Society}}

In October 1878 the Maritime Board of New South Wales decided to construct a modern lighthouse at the location. It was the third of five lighthouses of similar design designed by James Barnet in 1878–80, the other four being Richmond River Light, Clarence River Light (now demolished), Tacking Point Lighthouse and Crowdy Head Light.{{sfn|RNE263}} It originally had a porch and an annexe serving as oil room. A four-room, single-storey lighthouse keeper's house was constructed about {{convert|20|m}} northwest of the tower.{{sfn|Tweed Heads Historical Society}} The lighthouse and keeper's cottage were constructed by Joseph William Mortley and Shepherd who were successful with their government tender.

On 15 June 1920 the light was converted to an automatic carbide lamp (acetylene gas) apparatus, with an intensity of 1,500 cd, and altered to group flashing. Soon after, the station was demanned and all buildings other than the tower were demolished.{{sfn|Lighthouses of Australia Inc}}{{sfn|RNE263}}

In 1980 the light was converted to electricity.{{sfn|Tweed Heads Historical Society}} The current light source is a modern FA-251 Beacon with a 12 Volt 75 Watt HL-2000 quartz halogen lamp. It is fed by mains electricity with a Battery standby.{{sfn|Lighthouses of Australia Inc}} It revolves once every 30 seconds.{{sfn|Tweed Heads Historical Society}}

The current light characteristic is a flash every five seconds, red to east and white to other directions (Fl.W.R. 5s). It is partially obscured.List of Lights

The circular tower is made from bricks and cement rendered from the outside. It is capped by an oversailing bluestone platform at {{convert|12|ft}} above ground levels, supported by shaped bluestone corbels. The platform is surrounded by a handrail of metal standards and rails. It is topped by the domed lantern housing the optical apparatus, a fourth order catadioptric.{{sfn|RNE263}}

The light is operated by Transport for NSW.According to {{harvnb|NSW Maritime}}, though {{harvnb|Rowlett}} says Australian Maritime Safety Authority The site is managed by the New South Wales Department of Lands.

The light is accessible by road from the Pacific Highway just south of the Tweed River. Parking is provided, and there is also a public beach and a picnic area just north of the lighthouse. The tower itself, however, is closed to the public.{{sfn|Rowlett}}

• List of lighthouses in Australia

{{reflist}}

{{commons category|Fingal Head Light}}

{{Sfn whitelist |CITEREFRNE263}}

{{refbegin}}

• {{cite ngall|111|2009|120}}
• {{cite rowlett|nsw|accessdate=2010-08-29}}
• {{cite loa|NSW|Fingal%20Head|The Fingal Head Lighthouse}}
• {{cite sslidx|NSW}}
• {{Cite web|url=http://tweedhistory.org.au/combined-tweed-river-historical-societies/tweed-history/fingal-lighthouse/|title=Fingal Lighthouse « Tweed Heads Historical Society|work=tweedhistory.org.au|accessdate=31 August 2010|ref=CITEREFTweed Heads Historical Society|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100827151533/http://tweedhistory.org.au/combined-tweed-river-historical-societies/tweed-history/fingal-lighthouse/|archive-date=27 August 2010|url-status=dead}}
• {{Cite web |url= http://www.maritime.nsw.gov.au/mpd/lighthouses.html |title=Lighthouse Lights - NSW Maritime |work=maritime.nsw.gov.au |accessdate=3 October 2010|ref=CITEREFNSW Maritime}}
• {{cite AHPI|RNE263|Fingal Head Lighthouse}}

{{refend}}

{{Portal bar|New South Wales|Engineering}}

{{Lighthouses of New South Wales}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Lighthouses completed in 1880

Category:Lighthouses in New South Wales

Category:1872 establishments in Australia

Category:Tweed Heads, New South Wales