New Caloundra Light facts for kids
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| Old Caloundra Light on the right, New Caloundra Light on the left, 2008 | |
 New Caloundra Light
Location in Queensland
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| Location | Caloundra Queensland Australia |
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| Coordinates | 26°48′05.63″S 153°08′14.67″E / 26.8015639°S 153.1374083°E |
| Year first constructed | 1967 |
| Year first lit | 1968 |
| Automated | 1968 |
| Deactivated | 1992 |
| Construction | concrete tower |
| Tower shape | square tower supporting D-shaped observation room, lantern on roof |
| Markings / pattern | white tower |
| Height | 46 feet (14 m) |
| Focal height | 52 metres (171 ft) |
| Range | 24 nautical miles (44 km; 28 mi) |
| Characteristic | Fl (2) W 10s. |
| ARLHS number | AUS-252 |
The New Caloundra Light is a special old lighthouse in Caloundra, Queensland, Australia. It's also called the New Caloundra Head Light. This lighthouse is no longer working, but it stands tall on Canberra Terrace. It was used from 1968 to 1992. It looks a bit like an airport control tower, which makes it very unique! It's the only lighthouse of its kind left in Australia.
Contents
A Brief History of the Caloundra Lighthouse
The Old Caloundra Light was built in 1896. It stood on Canberra Terrace for many years. This old lighthouse helped guide ships into the North West Channel. This channel was a deep waterway leading to Moreton Bay and the Port of Brisbane.
In the 1960s, shipping changed a lot. More large container ships started using the channel. This made the channel even more important. So, in May 1966, plans were approved for a new, modern building. This new building would be a lighthouse, a signal station, and a radar station all in one.
Building the New Lighthouse
The New Caloundra Light was built in 1967. It was the second of seven new lighthouses made from concrete. These lighthouses were built between 1964 and 1979. Other lighthouses in this group included Cape Capricorn Light and Point Danger Light.
The light inside the tower was made of special lamps. These lamps were on a spinning table. The light could show red and green colors. Even though the light worked automatically, people still worked at the station. This was because of the signal station part of the building. Four houses were built nearby for the staff.
The new tower was built right next to the old lighthouse. By 1968, the New Caloundra Light was fully working. The old lighthouse was then turned off. In 1970, the old lighthouse was moved to save it from being torn down.
Changes Over Time
The New Caloundra Light didn't stay a main coastal light for very long. By 1978, many buildings in Caloundra had grown taller. These new buildings started to block the lighthouse from some directions.
In 1978, the Point Cartwright Light was built. Because of this, the New Caloundra Light became less important. It was then used only as a harbour light, guiding ships closer to shore.
The harbour light stayed until 1992. Then, it was moved to Wickham Point. A new radar and microwave system replaced the signal station. The lighthouse staff were no longer needed. The New Caloundra Light stayed as a backup light for a while. It was finally turned off completely in 1997.
When it was last used, the light flashed white twice every ten seconds. It was a very bright light, like 1,000,000 candles! It could be seen from about 24 nautical miles (44 km; 28 mi) away. The light was 52 metres (171 ft) above the ground.
What the Lighthouse Looks Like
The New Caloundra Light is 14 metres (46 ft) tall. Its design is very unusual, looking like an airport control tower. It has a square base with a D-shaped room on top. The rounded side of this room faces east. The light itself is on the roof of this D-shaped room.
Another building with a similar design was built in Lytton, Queensland. But that building was taken down in the 1990s. This means the New Caloundra Light is the only one of its kind left!
Inside the Tower
The base of the tower is 2.7 metres (8 ft 10 in) wide. You enter from the west side. Inside, there's a spiral concrete staircase. This staircase leads up to the D-shaped observation room. The stairs have a steel handrail. There's one rectangular window on each of the four sides of the base.
The observation room has windows all around. The rounded eastern side has a long band of windows. The straight western side has four separate windows. There's a small toilet in one corner of the room. A door in another corner leads to a narrow balcony. This balcony wraps around the rounded part of the room. The balcony has a concrete floor. Its railing is covered with special panels that look like pebbles. A steel ladder on one side leads up to the flat roof.
The Lantern Room and Roof
The roof of the observation room has a railing around it. The lantern room, where the light used to be, is in the middle of this roof. It's a round room made of concrete. It's wider at the top than at the bottom. The windows of the lantern room face the sea. You can get into the lantern room through a door. Another ladder on the roof leads to the very top of the lantern room. This is where radar and radio equipment were placed.
Next to the lighthouse, there's an orange brick building. This building was built at the same time as the lighthouse, in 1967–1968. It was used to hold the generator. It has high windows with brick sills. The concrete roof hangs over, forming a small awning. Inside, there are two rooms: a larger generator room and a smaller room.
Visiting the Lighthouse
You can visit the area around the New Caloundra Light. However, you cannot go inside the tower itself.
As of 2011, a group called "Friends of the Caloundra Lighthouses Inc" was working to get permission. They wanted to allow people to visit the 1968 Signal Station and Lighthouse. As of July 2012, it became possible to visit the tower. You can contact The Friends of the Caloundra Lighthouses for more information.
