Point Perpendicular Lighthouse

Built to replace the Cape St George Lighthouse, the 21 metre tower and cottages, the first of three similar towers, the Point Perpendicular lighthouse was completed in 1898. It was the first of three similar lighthouses on the NSW coast to be built using precast concrete blocks – made on site from local aggregate – lifted into position above a mass concrete base. Cape Byron completed 1901, Norah Head completed 1903. These three lights were designed by Charles Harding who was James Barnett’s successor. The convict architect Francis Greenway designed Australia’s first lighthouse, the 1818 Macquarie Lighthouse at Watsons Bay (replaced by James Barnett in 1883 using Greenaway’s original design). Greenaway’s design influenced Australian lighthouse architecture for the next 85 years. His influence can be seen in Point Perpendicular. The contractor Edward Kelly undertook construction of the light for 20,280 pounds.

This new building technique eliminated the use of formwork used for the construction of mass concrete structures reducing cost & construction time. It also has the advantage of obviating disfiguring cracks caused by shrinkage of material on mass concrete buildings. Whilst common in other parts of the world this construction technique was new to the colony.

History

The Point Perpendicular Lighthouse was established in 1899 to replace the inaccurately placed Cape St George Lighthouse.

The original 1860 lighthouse had been built in the wrong position due to inadequate supervision by the authorities of the day. It was not visible to the northern approach at Jervis Bay and failed to warn of offshore reefs.

Even though when the error was realised it was intended to show a light at Cape St George only as a temporary measure it was not until 1897, over 30 years later, that work began on its replacement on the northern side of the entrance to the bay.

Stores and materials for the new lighthouse were landed at Bindijine Wharf, constructed by George Franklin in 1898, on Honeymoon Bay on the Northern side of Jervis Bay. They were then transported by horse and cart to Point Perpendicular. This method of supply remained until adequate roads were constructed connecting Nowra to Currawong in the 1930’s.

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Heritage Light

Keepers

William Parker was the first head keeper and his assistants were William Simpson and Arthur Bailey. John Hampson was the last head keeper and left in July 1993. We need your help in compiling a list of keepers for this lighthouse. If you have any information then send it to keeper@lighthouses.org.au. Please include this lighthouse’s name, the keepers full name and what years they were keepers. Also include the same information for any other lights they were on.

Pt Perpendicular 100th Anniversary

On 1 May 1999, the Point Perpendicular lighthouse celebrated 100 years since it was originally exhibited, although celebrations were not held until October 1999. The Currarong Seafare Festival incorporated the centenary celebrations, commencing with the Seafarers Ball on 15 October 1999, followed by an art and photography competition based on “a century of seafaring”.  Celebrations were held at the lighthouse site on Saturday 16 October with activities including a Naval display, tours of the old tower, market day and children’s activities.

At around dusk, the new lattice lighthouse was turned off and the original lighthouse was re-lit by Ian Clifford for the first time since its decommissioning.