Queenscliff High Light facts for kids
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| Queenscliff High Light | |
 Queenscliff High Light
Location in Victoria
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| Location | Port Phillip Victoria Australia |
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| Coordinates | 38°16′17.6″S 144°39′42.6″E / 38.271556°S 144.661833°E |
| Year first constructed | 1843 (first) |
| Year first lit | 1862 (current) |
| Construction | bluestone tower |
| Tower shape | cylindrical tower with balcony and lantern |
| Markings / pattern | unpainted stone tower and green lantern and balcony |
| Height | 18 metres (59 ft) |
| Focal height | 40 metres (130 ft) |
| Range | 14 nautical miles (26 km) |
| Characteristic | either F W or Oc. W 15s. depending on bearing |
| Admiralty number | K2325 |
| NGA number | 7523.4 |
| ARLHS number | AUS-263 |
The Queenscliff High Light is a famous lighthouse in Queenscliff, Victoria, Australia. People also call it the Black Lighthouse or Fort Queenscliff Lighthouse. It stands inside the grounds of Fort Queenscliff.
This lighthouse is very special because it's one of only three black lighthouses in the whole world! It's also the only black lighthouse in the Southern Hemisphere. It was built in 1862. It replaced an older, weaker lighthouse from 1843 that was falling apart.
The light itself is 40 metres (about 131 feet) above sea level. This height is called its focal plane. The light changes depending on which direction a ship is coming from. It can be a steady light or a flashing light that turns off for a moment every 15 seconds. The Queenscliff High Light is one of four lighthouses in Queenscliff. They work together to create a "leading line." This line helps guide ships safely through the tricky entrance of Port Phillip Bay.
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History of the Queenscliff High Light
The Queenscliff High Light has an interesting past. There are different stories about where the dark stone, called basalt, for the lighthouse came from.
Where Did the Stone Come From?
One story says the stone came all the way from Scotland. It was used as heavy ballast in ships to keep them stable during their long journey. Another idea is that the stone was dug up in Melbourne and then shipped to Queenscliff. The fact that the stone traveled by ship might be why people thought it came from Scotland. A third story, told by tour guides today, suggests the entire lighthouse was cut into pieces in Scotland. Then, it was shipped and put together like a giant puzzle right here in Queenscliff.
Lighthouse Design and Early Use
The lighthouse was definitely designed in Scotland. What's strange is that it was designed to handle big ocean waves, even though it's built on a bluff that's 20 metres (about 65 feet) above the sea. Its walls are curved to help push away the force of waves. The original entrance was 5 metres (about 16 feet) above the ground. You can still see it today! For the first ten years, people had to use a rope ladder to get inside. Later, a door was cut at ground level.
Changes Over Time
Fort Queenscliff was built around the lighthouse during the Australian gold rush. People were worried that ships carrying gold might be attacked by privateers (pirates working for a government).
The lighthouse's light source has changed over the years. In 1890, it started using gas. Then, in 1924, it was switched to electricity. It's believed that the very first public telephone service in Victoria was set up right here at the lighthouse! Today, no one lives at the lighthouse. It's fully automated, meaning machines run it. The Port of Melbourne Corporation takes care of it.
