Western Mail (Perth, WA : 1885 - 1954), Saturday 23 April 1904, page 10


DESCRIPTION OF THE LIGHT-

HOUSE.

The Public Works Department have supplied the following interesting par-ticulars regarding the lighthouse : -

"In 1898 suggestions were put forward by Captain Russell, R N., then Chief Harbourmaster, pointing out that, on account of the increased number of ves-

sels calling at Bunbury and Vasse, it was advisable to erect a lighthouse at Cape Naturaliste, so that the reefs some 20 miles north from the promontory could be better located and avoided. These reefs are deemed more especially dangerous at night to vessels that have rounded the Leeuwin and are making for Bun-bury or Fremantle, and also (but possibly to a lesser degree) on the outward course. The matter, however, seems not to have been spe-cially pressed until towards the end of 1900, when attention was again drawn to the advisability of this light by the late Engineer-in-Chief (Mr. C. Y. O'Connor)

The character and location of same were thereupon entered into somewhat

fully, and proposals were laid before the then Premier (Sir John Forrest), who, in October of that year, directed that the sum of £10,000 should be placed on the Loan Estimates, with a view to thc work being proceeded with. Correspondence was accordingly entered into with the chief authorities, both in the colony and

England, in order to settle definitely what description of light was most suit-able to the conditions obtaining.

"At the same time a survey of the hills in the neighbourhood of Cape Naturaliste was put in hand, and a favourable site fixed upon at a level of about 360ft. above high water. The position is a very pro-minent one, and will, no doubt, become a Lloyd's signal station for shipping; and. having this in view, the lighthouse bas been connected by telephone with Quindalup, and thence with the telegraph system of the State. The description of light was finally settled on the advice of Mr W. T. Douglass. M. Inst. CE., the Consulting Engineer for Lighthouses, and in April. 1902. the lantern and ap-paratus were indented for from England, their construction being entrusted to Messrs. Chance Bros. of Birmingham. As soon as this work was well under weigh a contract was let in the State (February, 1903) for the erection of the tower and light-keepers' quarters, and this contract, has steadily progressed to its present completion. The approximate position of the light is in latitude 33deg. 32min. S. and longitude 115deg. min. 45sec. E., and the focal plane is at 404ft. above high

water.

"The light is a first order dioptric double-flashing lightning while one of 920 m/m focal distance, rotating an a mercury float, and bas the following cha-racteristics : - Period. l0sec. : flash, in-terval 21/2sec. : flash, interval 71/2sec. The range of visibility is about 27 miles in clear weather, and extends beyond the Naturaliste reefs to the north about eight

miles. The arc illuminated will be from the Vasse lighthouse round by the north to Cape Clairault (to the south of Cape Naturaliste), and measures approximate-ly 277deg. As already stated, the lan-tern and apparatus were constructed by Messrs Chance Bros., in England, and the work of erection, together with that of the tower and quarters, has been car-ried out bv Mr. S. J. Anderson, contrac-tor, of Perth.

"The tower, which is built of stone ob-tained from quarries opened out on the headland, stands about 33ft. above the ground level, and bas a substantial moulded concrete cornice, upon which the lantern stands. The quarters, also of local stone, comprise three dwellings, as three light-keepers will require to be employed, the position being so isolated. All the structures are specially strongly built, the Cape being exposed to heavy gales and storms An abundant water supply bas been provided from a permanent spring about three quarters of a mile distant. whence it is pumped by means of a windmill. Mr. A. B. Kaiser has supervised the work throughout, under the direction of tho Engineer for Harbours and Rivers.

"The cost of the lantern and apparatus delivered at Fremantle amounted, in round figures, to some £5,800, and that of the tower, quarters, water supply, and general accessories, together with con-veyance of lantern and apparatus to the site and erection of same will, though not yet finally determined amount to just about £5,800 also. The total cost of the station complete will, therefore, be about £11,600."