Point Cartwright Light facts for kids
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| Point Cartwright Light, 2007 | |
 Point Cartwright Light
Location in Queensland
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| Location | Mooloolaba Queensland Australia |
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| Coordinates | 26°40′46.94″S 153°08′18.45″E / 26.6797056°S 153.1384583°E |
| Year first constructed | 1978 |
| Automated | 1978 |
| Construction | reinforced concrete |
| Tower shape | pentagonal tower |
| Markings / pattern | white tower and lantern |
| Height | 105 feet (32 m) |
| Focal height | 174 feet (53 m) |
| Intensity | white: 310,000 cd red: 2,100 cd |
| Range | white: 23 nmi (43 km) red: 11 nmi (20 km) |
| Characteristic | Fl (3) WR 15s. |
| Admiralty number | K2907.8 |
| NGA number | 111-5672 |
| ARLHS number | AUS-129 |
The Point Cartwright Light is an active lighthouse in Queensland, Australia. It stands on Point Cartwright, which is a piece of land sticking out into the sea. This point is very close to where the Mooloolah River meets the ocean in Mooloolaba.
Lighthouses are like traffic lights for ships. This one helps guide ships safely into the Mooloolaba Harbour. It also marks the entrance to the North West Channel. This channel is a deep water path that leads to Moreton Bay and the Port of Brisbane.
History of the Lighthouse
Lighthouses have been important for guiding ships for a long time. The first lighthouse to help ships near this area was the Old Caloundra Light. It was built way back in 1896.
In the 1960s, shipping changed a lot. Ships became bigger and faster. Because of this, a new, more modern lighthouse was needed. So, the New Caloundra Light was built in 1967. It had new technology to help guide ships.
However, the New Caloundra Light didn't stay a main coastal light for very long. By 1978, many tall buildings had been built in Caloundra. These buildings started to block the light from some directions. This made it harder for ships to see the light.
That's why the Point Cartwright Light was built in 1978. It was designed to be a modern and effective guide for ships. This lighthouse was one of seven similar concrete towers built in Australia between 1964 and 1979. These towers were all built to be automatic from the start. This means no one ever had to live at the lighthouse to operate it.
How the Light Works
The Point Cartwright Light has a special pattern, or "characteristic," that helps sailors know it's this specific lighthouse. It flashes three times every fifteen seconds.
The light shows two different colors:
- A red light shines towards the Mooloolaba Harbour. This red light helps ships find their way into the harbor safely. It can be seen up to about 11 nautical miles away.
- A white light shines towards the North West Channel. This white light helps ships find the entrance to the channel. It is much brighter and can be seen up to about 23 nautical miles away.
The lighthouse gets its power from the regular electricity grid. But just in case there's a power cut, it has backup power. This backup comes from a diesel generator and batteries. The white flashes are very bright, about 310,000 cd. The red flashes are not as bright, about 2,100 cd. This difference in brightness is made using a special filter and a red plastic screen.
Visiting the Lighthouse
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority is in charge of operating the Point Cartwright Light. You can visit the area around the lighthouse. It's a nice spot to look out at the ocean. However, the lighthouse tower itself is usually closed to the public.
