Green Cape, New South Wales facts for kids
Green Cape is a special place on the far south coast of New South Wales, Australia. It's a headland, which means it's a piece of land that sticks out into the ocean. You can find it at 37° 15' S 150° 03' E, inside Beowa National Park, south of a town called Eden, New South Wales. This cape also marks the northern edge of a large area of water known as Disaster Bay.
Contents
Green Cape's Exciting History
Green Cape has seen some dramatic events, especially involving ships!
Early Shipwrecks
The first known shipwreck at Green Cape happened on October 6, 1862. A ship called the City of Sydney hit the cape during a thick fog. Luckily, all more than 100 passengers and crew were safe. They all got into lifeboats and made it to shore.
Later, on May 31, 1886, another ship, the SS Ly-Ee-Moon, was traveling to Sydney from Melbourne. It hit a hidden reef close to the cape at night. This was a very sad event, as 71 people lost their lives. The lighthouse keepers could only save 15 people because of the difficult conditions.
Building the Lighthouse
The famous Green Cape Lighthouse was finished in 1883. It is the southernmost lighthouse in New South Wales. Most of the lighthouse was built by a person named Albert Aspinall. To help with construction, he built a special wooden tramway. This tramway was about 7 kilometers (4.3 miles) long and stretched from the nearest safe landing spot at Bittangabee Bay. It made it much easier to bring building materials to the cape.
Green Cape's Climate
Green Cape has a mild climate, which means it doesn't get too hot or too cold. It has warm summers and cool winters. This type of weather is called an oceanic climate.
One interesting thing about Green Cape's weather is something called the foehn effect. This makes Green Cape have many more clear, sunny days each year (about 68 days) compared to other places like Melbourne (which has about 49 clear days). It also means Green Cape often feels warmer in winter.
Special Places: Heritage Listings
Green Cape has some places that are very important because of their history. These are called "heritage-listed" sites. It means they are protected so future generations can learn from them.
- Green Cape Road: Green Cape Maritime Precinct is one of these special heritage-listed areas.
