Western Channel Pile Light

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Western Channel Pile Light
Western Channel Pile Light located on Sydney Harbour.jpg
Western Channel Pile Light in 2013
Western Channel Pile Light
Location Sydney Harbour, New South Wales, Australia
Coordinates 33°50′S151°16′E / 33.84°S 151.26°E / -33.84; 151.26
Tower
Constructed1908 (first)
1924 (second) [1]
Foundation12 piles
Constructionconcrete (tower)  OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
Height8 m (26 ft)  OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
Shapeoctagonal tower with double balcony and lantern
Markingswhite  OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
Power sourcesolar power  OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
Operator Port Authority of New South Wales
Light
First lit2008 (rebuilt)
Deactivated2006–2008
Focal height8 m (26 ft)  OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
Range5 nmi (9.3 km; 5.8 mi)  OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
Characteristic Oc R 3s  OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg

The Western Channel Pile Light, also known as the West Wedding Cake due to its shape, is an active pile lighthouse located on Sydney Harbour, New South Wales, Australia, off Georges Head, Mosman. It marks the western end of the Sow and Pigs Reef. It collapsed in December 2006 and was reconstructed and restored to operation in December 2008.

Contents

History

Western Channel Pile Light was completed in 1924, replacing a marker buoy, together with Eastern Channel Pile Light. [2] It was constructed from concrete bottom (originally known as the "gas house"), supported by twelve piles, [3] with a copper top and a wooden stakes skirt. [4] It was originally gas powered (probably a carbide lamp), and was later converted to solar power. [4]

In 1996 a 10 metres (33 ft) stainless steel mast, serving as a weather station, was installed on the structure, providing information about weather conditions in the harbour. [4]

The lighthouse was due for replacement in 2007, and a budget was set, but on 12 December 2006 it collapsed, [4] as one or two of the supporting piles broke. [3] Sydney Ports Corporation employed Waterways Constructions to reconstruct the lighthouse. [5] The new tower was designed to look as similar as possible to its predecessor, using the salvaged and renovated lantern house, and a new lower section. [3] Reconstruction completed and the light returned to operation on 18 December 2008. [3]

Site operation

The light is operated by the Port Authority of New South Wales. It is accessible only by boat, and is closed to the public. [6]

Notes

  1. According to Rowlett and all other sources. 1947 according to Searle.
  2. According to Rowlett. Tadros 2006 says the Eastern light was built in 1908.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Sydney Ports Corporation.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Tadros 2006.
  5. "Sydney Ports – Putting icing on the Wedding Cake". sydneyports.com.au. Retrieved 14 September 2010.
  6. Rowlett.

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References

Commons-logo.svg Media related to Western Channel Pile at Wikimedia Commons