Cape Banks Lighthouse facts for kids
 |
|
| The Cape Banks Lighthouse in 2010 | |
 Cape Banks Lighthouse
Location in South Australia
|
|
| Location | Carpenter Rocks, South Australia |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 37°53′57″S 140°22′30″E / 37.899067°S 140.375064°E |
| Year first constructed | 1882-83 |
| Year first lit | 1883 |
| Automated | 1928 |
| Construction | limestone masonry |
| Tower shape | “round limestone tower with lantern and gallery” |
| Markings / pattern | tower painted bright orange-red, lantern white |
| Height | 15 metres (49 ft) |
| Focal height | 25 metres (82 ft) |
| Original lens | “3rd order Fresnel lens” |
| Range | 18 nautical miles (33 km; 21 mi) |
| Characteristic | two white flashes every 10 s |
| Admiralty number | K2130 |
| NGA number | 8080 |
| ARLHS number | AUS-020 |
The Cape Banks Lighthouse is a lighthouse in South Australia. You can find it in the state's south-east, near the town of Carpenter Rocks. It stands on a headland about 2.5 kilometres (1.6 miles) north-west of the town centre. Lighthouses like this one help guide ships safely along the coast.
Contents
Why a Lighthouse Was Needed
People started talking about building a lighthouse near Cape Banks as early as 1880. There were many ship accidents in this area. It was also suggested that parts from the old Cape Northumberland Lighthouse could be reused here. This would save money and put old equipment to good use.
Building the Lighthouse
In March 1882, plans for the new lighthouse were announced. It would be built near Carpenter Rocks, close to Cape Banks. The budget for the project was about £3,770. The plan included reusing the "catoptric apparatus" (the light-producing part) from the Cape Northumberland Lighthouse.
The lighthouse was designed to be about 9 metres (30 feet) tall. Its light would shine from about 18 metres (60 feet) above the high water mark. This meant the light could be seen from 16 to 19 kilometres (10 to 12 miles) away.
On 27 July 1882, a company called Goss & Lambert was hired. They agreed to build the lighthouse, a storage building, and two homes for the lighthouse keepers. The cost for this work was around £3,000.
First Light and Automation
The Cape Banks Lighthouse first shone its light on 1 January 1883. For many years, a keeper and their family lived there to operate the light.
However, in May 1928, the lighthouse became automated. This meant machines took over the job of the keepers. Because of this, the keepers and their families no longer needed to live at the lighthouse. The homes and the store building were later taken down.
A Special Heritage Site
The Cape Banks Lighthouse is an important part of South Australia's history. It has been listed as a state heritage place since 11 November 1999. This means it is protected because of its historical value.
The lighthouse shows how navigation aids developed in the late 1800s. The top part of the lighthouse, called the lantern house, is very special. It was reused from the original Cape Northumberland Lighthouse. This lantern house is one of only three like it left in Australia. It has a unique fourteen-sided design.
The land where the lighthouse stands was added to the Canunda National Park on 14 August 1997. This helps protect the area around the lighthouse.
