Norah Head Bungaree Noragh Point Central Coast, New South Wales | |||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Coordinates | 33°16′57″S151°34′27″E / 33.28250°S 151.57417°E | ||||||||||||||
Population | 1,149 (SAL 2021) [1] | ||||||||||||||
Postcode(s) | 2263 | ||||||||||||||
Elevation | 3 m (10 ft) | ||||||||||||||
Location |
| ||||||||||||||
LGA(s) | Central Coast Council | ||||||||||||||
Parish | Wallarah | ||||||||||||||
State electorate(s) | Wyong | ||||||||||||||
Federal division(s) | Dobell | ||||||||||||||
|
Norah Head, originally known as Bungaree Noragh Point, [2] is a headland and a coastal village in the Central Coast Council local government area on the Central Coast of New South Wales, Australia. Norah Head is known for its great surfing and clear beaches like Soldiers Beach near Wyrrabalong National Park and Pebbly Beach with Norah Head Rock Pool. The town is home to Norah Head Lighthouse with scenic views along the coast. [3]
The Norah Head Lighthouse was the last significant lighthouse built in New South Wales, a 27-metre (89 ft) tower, completed in 1903 with monetary assistance from the Hargraves family of Noraville after considerable numbers of ships foundered on the coast near the headland. Originally it was powered by a kerosene concentric wick lamp and still today it features a second order bivalve Fresnel lens [4] prism floating on a mercury bath. At first, the prism was rotated by descending weights, but the light was electrified in 1961 and fully automated in 1995. The light flashes once in 15 seconds, and is visible to 27 nautical miles (50 km), the focal plane is located at 46 metres (151 ft) AHD . For coastal shipping, two additional light signals are shown: a red light in the northeast sector, emitted from 39 metres (128 ft) above the sea and a green one towards southwest, emitted from 44 metres (144 ft); both are continuous. Norah Head Lighthouse is considered to be a popular venue for weddings. [4]
The former lighthouse keepers cottage (Head Keeper's separate cottage and two assistants semi-detached quarters) are maintained, and two of these are available for rent. [5]
Norah Head has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:
Near the head, sea battles between the Japanese Navy and Merchant navy ships took place in World War II: Three ships were sunk, Nimbin, at 1,052 tonnes (1,035 long tons; 1,160 short tons), by a mine on 5 December 1940 and the fishing trawler Millimumul sank with the loss of seven men on 26 March 1941 when it trawled up a German mine laid by the mine ship Pinguin, as well as BHP Shipping's Iron Chieftain, at 4,812 tonnes (4,736 long tons; 5,304 short tons) by a submarine on 3 June 1942. The Age, at 4,775 tonnes (4,700 long tons; 5,264 short tons), was also attacked on the same day.
There are several unique landforms around the head. Immediately in front of the head there is a rock platform which was formed in the Permian to Triassic periods around 180 - 280 million years ago. In the platform there is a volcanic intrusion, a channel of darker rock running from one side of the platform to the other. The intrusion was created by waves quarrying a softer basalt lava flow out of the surrounding granite. The lava came from an ancient volcano, probably Mount Warrawolong to the west. [7]
Climate data for Norah Head, New South Wales (1989–2022) | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °C (°F) | 44.0 (111.2) | 39.7 (103.5) | 37.2 (99.0) | 33.6 (92.5) | 28.1 (82.6) | 26.3 (79.3) | 24.7 (76.5) | 29.4 (84.9) | 33.5 (92.3) | 36.5 (97.7) | 41.5 (106.7) | 40.7 (105.3) | 44.0 (111.2) |
Average high °C (°F) | 26.3 (79.3) | 26.1 (79.0) | 25.2 (77.4) | 23.2 (73.8) | 20.3 (68.5) | 18.0 (64.4) | 17.5 (63.5) | 18.9 (66.0) | 21.2 (70.2) | 22.8 (73.0) | 23.9 (75.0) | 25.1 (77.2) | 22.4 (72.3) |
Average low °C (°F) | 19.8 (67.6) | 20.0 (68.0) | 18.9 (66.0) | 16.1 (61.0) | 13.1 (55.6) | 11.1 (52.0) | 9.8 (49.6) | 10.5 (50.9) | 12.8 (55.0) | 14.9 (58.8) | 16.8 (62.2) | 18.5 (65.3) | 15.2 (59.4) |
Record low °C (°F) | 14.5 (58.1) | 13.9 (57.0) | 12.0 (53.6) | 7.9 (46.2) | 6.9 (44.4) | 5.3 (41.5) | 4.0 (39.2) | 4.6 (40.3) | 6.1 (43.0) | 8.5 (47.3) | 8.8 (47.8) | 11.2 (52.2) | 4.0 (39.2) |
Average precipitation mm (inches) | 80.6 (3.17) | 122.8 (4.83) | 136.5 (5.37) | 120.9 (4.76) | 124.1 (4.89) | 154.4 (6.08) | 84.8 (3.34) | 69.9 (2.75) | 61.5 (2.42) | 63.9 (2.52) | 94.1 (3.70) | 70.4 (2.77) | 1,163.9 (45.82) |
Average precipitation days | 12.5 | 12.7 | 14.5 | 14.1 | 13.4 | 14.3 | 10.8 | 8.9 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 12.5 | 12.0 | 148.3 |
Average relative humidity (%) | 70 | 72 | 69 | 65 | 64 | 63 | 59 | 56 | 60 | 64 | 68 | 68 | 65 |
Source: Bureau of Meteorology [8] |
Palm Beach is a suburb in the Northern Beaches region of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Palm Beach is located 41 kilometres (25 mi) north of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of Northern Beaches Council. Palm Beach sits on a peninsula at the end of Barrenjoey Road near Pittwater and is the northernmost beach in the Greater Sydney Metropolitan area. The population of Palm Beach was 1,593 as at the 2016 census.
The Macquarie Lighthouse, also known as South Head Upper Light, is the first, and is the longest serving, lighthouse site in Australia. It is located on Dunbar Head, on Old South Head Road, Vaucluse in the Municipality of Woollahra local government area of New South Wales, Australia. The lighthouse is situated approximately 2 kilometres (1 mi) south of South Head near the entrance to Sydney Harbour. There has been a navigational aid in this vicinity since 1791 and a lighthouse near the present site since 1818. The current heritage-listed lighthouse was completed in 1883. The lighthouse and associated buildings were designed by James Barnet and built from 1881 to 1883.
Seal Rocks is a small coastal settlement in the Mid-Coast Council local government area, in the Mid North Coast region of New South Wales, Australia, 275 kilometres (171 mi) north-north-east of Sydney. It is famous for its many premier surfing beaches, and also for being the home of Seal Rocks lighthouse, officially known as Sugarloaf Point Lighthouse. At the 2021 census, the area had a population of 56 persons.
Fingal Head is a village on the Tasman Sea coast in the far northeast of New South Wales, Australia, about 5 km south of the New South Wales and Queensland border. The village is often just called Fingal. The headland and the small off-shore Island were first sighted by James Cook about 17:00 on 16 May 1770. At the time of the 2016 census, Fingal Head had a population of 592 people.
The Green Cape Lighthouse is a heritage-listed lighthouse located at the tip of Green Cape, a headland forming the northern boundary of Disaster Bay, in southern New South Wales, Australia. It is the southernmost lighthouse in New South Wales and Australia's first lighthouse built in concrete. At 29 metres (95 ft) it is also the tallest lighthouse in New South Wales. It marks Green Cape on the northerly shore-hugging sailing course.
Tacking Point Lighthouse is Australia's thirteenth oldest lighthouse. It was built on a rocky headland about 8 kilometres south of Port Macquarie in 1879 by Shepherd and Joseph William Mortley, to a design by the New South Wales Colonial Architect, James Barnet. It is operated by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority and is classified by the National Trust of Australia (NSW).
Smoky Cape Lighthouse is a heritage-listed active lighthouse located on Smoky Cape, a headland in Arakoon east of the town of South West Rocks, Kempsey Shire, New South Wales, Australia, and within the Hat Head National Park. It directs boats towards the entrance to the Macleay River, which is located just to the north of the lighthouse.
Richmond River Light, also known as Ballina Head Light and Ballina Light, is an active lighthouse located at Ballina Head, a headland in Ballina, New South Wales, Australia. The headland is at the northern side of the entrance to the Richmond River. It used to serve to guide ships into the river port and is used also serves as a leading light into the river, together with a steamer's masthead lantern with a 200 mm lens which is raised on a wooden structure 30 metres (98 ft) from it.
Cape Byron Light, also called Cape Byron Lightstation, is an active heritage-listed lighthouse and now interpretative centre, interpretative space, maritime museum, administration office, retail building, accommodation, tourist attraction and visitor attraction located at Lighthouse Road, Byron Bay, Cape Byron, Byron Shire, New South Wales, Australia. It was designed by Charles Harding and Cecil W. Darley and built from 1899 to 1901 by Messrs Mitchell & King. It is also known as Cape Byron Lightstation, Byron Bay Lighthouse, Cape Byron Headlan and Cape Byron Headland Reserve. The property is owned by NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service.
The Montague Island Light is a heritage-listed active lighthouse located on Barunguba / Montague Island, an island in the Tasman Sea, 9 kilometres (5.6 mi) offshore from Narooma on the south coast of New South Wales, Australia. The lighthouse is located at the highest point of the island. It was designed by James Barnet and NSW Colonial Architect and built from 1878 to 1881 by J. Musson and completed By W. H. Jennings. It is also known as the Montague Island Lightstation and its setting. The property is owned by the Office of Environment and Heritage, an agency of the Government of New South Wales. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999, and the Commonwealth Heritage List on 22 June 2004.
Nobbys Head Light is an active lighthouse on Nobbys Head, a headland on the south side of the entrance to Newcastle Harbour, New South Wales, Australia. An image of the lighthouse is included in the coat of arms of the City of Newcastle.
Norah Head Light is an active lighthouse located at Norah Head, a headland on the Central Coast, New South Wales, Australia, close to Toukley. It is the last lighthouse of the James Barnet style to be built, and the last staffed lighthouse constructed in New South Wales.
Sugarloaf Point Light, also known as Seal Rocks Lighthouse, is an active lighthouse located on Sugarloaf Point, a point about 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) southeast of Seal Rocks, Mid-Coast Council, New South Wales, Australia. It guards Seal Rocks, a treacherous rock formation to the south. It is the first lighthouse designed by James Barnet, and built from 1874 to 1875 by John McLeod. It is also one of only two towers in Australia with an external stairway. It is also known as Sugarloaf Point Lightstation Group, Seal Rocks Lightstation Complex and Sugarloaf Point Lighthouse. The property is owned by National Parks and Wildlife Service. It was added to the Commonwealth Heritage List on 22 June 2004; on the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 22 February 2019; and on the Register of the National Estate on 10 April 1989.
Bustard Head Light is an active lighthouse located on the southeast tip of Bustard Head, a headland, about 20 kilometres (12 mi) northwest of Seventeen Seventy, in the Australian state of Queensland, within the Eurimbula National Park and locality of Eurimbula. Built in 1868, it is the second-oldest lightstation in the state, following Cape Moreton Light, and the first to be built in Queensland after its formation in 1859. It is also one of the first in Australia to be constructed using bolted prefabricated segments of cast iron, and one of only two such lighthouses in Queensland, the other being its sibling, Sandy Cape Light. It serves as the central relay for Dent Island Light, Pine Islet Light and Lady Elliot Island Light and as the radio check post for Cape Capricorn Light, Sandy Cape Light and Double Island Point Light.
Cape Bowling Green Light is an active lighthouse on Cape Bowling Green, a long headland ending in a long low sandspit, about 30 kilometres (19 mi) from Ayr, Queensland, Australia. The lighthouse is at the end of the headland, near the base of the sandspit. The first lighthouse at the location, established in 1874, was moved multiple times. It was prefabricated in Brisbane, shipped to the location, moved twice due to coastal erosion and finally transferred for display at the Australian National Maritime Museum at Darling Harbour in Sydney.
Dent Island Light is an active lighthouse on Dent Island, a small island off the coast of Queensland, Australia, part of the Whitsunday Group of the Whitsunday Islands. Located on the southwest tip of the island, the light guides ships navigating the Whitsunday Passage, between Whitsunday Island and the islands to the west, and marks the Dent Island Passage.
Double Island Point Light is an active lighthouse located at the summit of Double Island Point, a coastal headland within the Cooloola section of the Great Sandy National Park. It is located at the southern end of Wide Bay, 70 kilometres (43 mi) north of Noosa Heads, Queensland, Australia.
Norah Head Lightstation Precinct is a heritage-listed former lighthouse precinct located at Bush Street, Norah Head in the Central Coast local government area of New South Wales, Australia. The Norah Head lighthouse and associated buildings were designed by Cecil W. Darley and built in 1903. The precinct was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 13 April 2007.