Woodman Light facts for kids
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| Woodman Point Lighthouse | |
 Woodman Point Lighthouse
Location in Western Australia
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| Location | Cockburn Sound, south of Fremantle Western Australia |
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| Coordinates | 32°07′51″S 115°46′11″E / 32.130844°S 115.769709°E |
| Year first constructed | 1902 |
| Automated | 1955 |
| Construction | limestone |
| Tower shape | cylindrical tower with balcony and lantern |
| Markings / pattern | half white (seawards) and unpainted (landwards), white lantern room |
| Height | 13 metres (43 ft) |
| Focal height | 37 metres (121 ft) |
| Range | 34.5 nmi (63.9 km) |
| Characteristic | Oc. WRG 30s. |
| Admiralty number | K1774 |
| NGA number | 9004 |
| ARLHS number | AUS-174 |
The Woodman Point Lighthouse is a famous lighthouse in Western Australia. It is also known by other names like Woodman Light or Gage Roads Lighthouse. This lighthouse is located on Woodman Point in the City of Cockburn. It has been working non-stop since 1902, helping ships find their way.
The lighthouse stands about 32 feet (9.8 m) tall. It was built using limestone from nearby quarries. It's quite unusual because it's built far inland, on the highest point of land in the area. Next to the lighthouse, there are two old houses built in the Federation Bungalow style. These houses were also made from limestone and were once home to the lighthouse keepers.
The Fremantle Port Authority looks after the Woodman Point Lighthouse. Its main job is to guide ships coming into Fremantle Harbour from the south-west. The lighthouse is usually not open for people to visit. The keepers' cottages are no longer used by lighthouse keepers. They became private homes after the lighthouse started using electricity in 1955.
Contents
History of the Lighthouse
The Woodman Point Lighthouse was originally called the Gage Roads Lighthouse. It was the first lighthouse built in the Cockburn area. Before this lighthouse, ships relied on a smaller light at Arthur Head. However, this light was not big enough for the many ships using the Fremantle Harbour. These ships often waited offshore in an area called Gage Roads.
Building the Lighthouse
Work on the Gage Roads Lighthouse began in October 1901. A builder named W. C. Rose constructed it for £2,383. The lighthouse used a special kerosene vapour light. This light was made by a company called Messrs Chance Bros & Co. in England.
The light had a unique pattern: it would hide for three seconds every 30 seconds. It also showed red, green, and white lights. These different colors helped ships know their position. Interestingly, the red and green lights were installed the wrong way around! Because of this, Woodman Light is the only lighthouse in Australia with its red and green sectors reversed. When it first opened, its light could be seen from about 17 nautical miles (31 km) away.
Opening Day and Early Keepers
The lighthouse officially opened on 23 August 1902. A special ceremony was held two days later. Many important people attended, including politicians like Cornthwaite Rason and James Gardiner. The Mayor of Fremantle, Lawrence Alexander, was also there.
The first people to work as lighthouse keepers were Mr. Hutchinson and his helper, Arthur Dray. They lived in the cottages next to the lighthouse and made sure the light was always working.
Changes Over the Years
In 1908, new parts were added to the light to make it better. During World War II, the army used the lighthouse as a communication and observation spot. Soldiers guarded it to keep it safe.
By 1944, the old clockwork system that controlled the light's flashes was getting old. It was replaced with a new one. Then, in 1955, the lighthouse was updated to use electricity. This cost £1300. The new electric light was much stronger and could be seen from about 34.5 nautical miles (63.9 km) in clear weather.
On 19 July 1955, the lighthouse no longer needed people to operate it. It became automated, meaning it could run by itself. The last lighthouse keepers were Mr. McBride and Les Liversea.
