Fitzroy Island Light facts for kids
 Fitzroy Island Light
Location in Queensland
|
|
| Location | Fitzroy Island Queensland Australia |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 16°55′34″S 146°00′07″E / 16.92622°S 146.00205°E |
| Year first constructed | 1943 |
| Year first lit | 1973 |
| Deactivated | 1992 |
| Construction | concrete tower, tile covered |
| Tower shape | octagonal tower |
| Markings / pattern | white tower |
| Height | 56 feet (17 m) |
| Admiralty number | K3168 |
| ARLHS number | AUS-074 |
| Location | Little Fitzroy Island Queensland Australia |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 16°55′23″S 146°00′23″E / 16.92297°S 146.00650°E |
| Year first constructed | 1992 |
| Automated | 1992 |
| Construction | fiberglass tower |
| Tower shape | cylindrical tower |
| Markings / pattern | white tower |
| Height | 4 feet (1.2 m) |
| Focal height | 33 feet (10 m) |
| Characteristic | F I(3) WRG 15s. |
| Admiralty number | K3168 |
| NGA number | 9956 |
Fitzroy Island Light is an old lighthouse on Fitzroy Island. This island is about 29 kilometers (18 miles) southeast of Cairns, Queensland, Australia. Even though this specific lighthouse was only used from 1973 to 1992, there has been a light station in the area since 1926. Today, the Fitzroy Island Light building is a visitor center for the Fitzroy Island National Park.
Contents
History of the Lights
Early Warning Lights
The first light station in this area was built in 1929. It was placed on a smaller island nearby, called Little Fitzroy Island. Its main job was to warn ships in the Grafton Passage about dangerous reefs around the island.
World War II Lighthouse
During World War II, in 1943, another light station was built on Fitzroy Island itself. This new light was meant to help the one on Little Fitzroy Island. It made sure ships had extra guidance during the war.
A Very Special Light Pattern
The light from the 1943 lighthouse was very unusual. It might have been the only one of its kind in the world! The way the light flashed actually changed depending on where a ship was located.
If a ship was exactly in the middle of the safe channel, the light would flash four times every 16 seconds. This was like a special signal.
If a ship was too far north of the channel, the first two flashes would blend together. This made the light look like one long flash followed by two short flashes. This pattern was like the Morse code letter "D", which meant "go down" (move south).
If a ship was too far south, the light would show two short flashes followed by one long flash. This pattern was like the Morse code letter "U", meaning "go up" (move north). This clever system helped ships stay on the right path.
The Modern Lighthouse
In 1973, the current Fitzroy Island Light was built. It was one of seven new concrete lighthouses built in Queensland between 1964 and 1979. When this new lighthouse started working, the old light on Little Fitzroy Island was turned off. The new lighthouse used many powerful lights called sealed beam lamps.
Changing Roles
In 1992, the Fitzroy Island Light was turned off. At the same time, the light on Little Fitzroy Island was turned back on and became active again. The Fitzroy Island Light building now has a new purpose. It serves as a visitor center for the Fitzroy Island National Park, welcoming people who come to explore the island.
What the Lighthouse Looks Like
The Fitzroy Island Light tower has eight sides, making it an octagon. It has a special room at the top for the light, called a lantern, and a walkway around it, known as a gallery. The lighthouse is made of concrete and is covered with tiles. It looks similar to other lighthouses like the Point Cartwright Light and the New Burnett Heads Light.
The site also has some old cottages where the lighthouse keepers used to live. There are other small buildings too, which were used to help run the lighthouse.
Visiting the Lighthouse
You can get to Fitzroy Island by taking a ferry from Cairns. Once you are on the island, it's about a 3.6-kilometer (2.2-mile) walk from where the ferry drops you off to the lighthouse.
You can visit the area around the lighthouse, but you cannot go inside the tower itself. The Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service looks after the site as part of the Fitzroy Island National Park.
You can see the unique light from the 1943 lighthouse on display in the lighthouse office. The lamp from the last lighthouse used here is also on display at the Cairns Historical Society Museum.
Images for kids
-
Plans for the Fitzroy Island lightstation housing, 1947
