Recently in Sydney the weather has been rather unpleasant, with strong winds, cold days and the occasional rain shower. The seas have also been rough, and as he watched the waves crashing against the rocks, Roy thought it would be a dangerous time to be in a boat. This made Roy think about lighthouses and he decided he would like to visit one to show his friends why they are so important, especially in this type of unpleasant weather. The question was where to go? Most lighthouses are not open to the public very often, but then Roy remembered Norah Head Lighthouse, a historic place which is regularly open for public tours.
If you would like to visit Norah Head Lighthouse it is on the Central Coast, not far from Toukley, and can be found at 40 Bush Street, Norah Head. The grounds of the lighthouse are able to be visited at any time (though you might need to walk up the road), and you can even stay in one of the old lighthouse keepers quarters, but if you want to see the interior and climb the 96 steps to the top of the tower, you will need to take a tour. Tours are available most days and are well worth the time. The view is amazing, the guides are friendly, interesting and informative and there is plenty of fascinating history to learn. Just make sure to wear comfortable shoes as there are 96 stairs to climb!
Norah Head Lighthouse is a little over a century old, and although it may not be as old as some of the other lighthouses, it is a beautiful and very historic building. In the 1800s, with settlement and industry growing up in Newcastle, shipping routes between Sydney and Newcastle were opened. These shipping routes were the fastest way to travel between Sydney and Newcastle, but they were not entirely safe. Heavy fog, perilous seas, jagged rocks and submerged reefs were a danger to ships and claimed many lives. Edward Hargraves, who is credited with starting the goldrush, was a resident of Noraville (near Norah Head) and had witnessed many shipwrecks off the coast. He thought a lighthouse was needed on the headland to help guide ships safely along the coast.
Although there were suggestions that a lighthouse be built on Norah Head as far back as the 1880s, it was not until the 1900s that work actually began on the building. The lighthouse was designed by Charles Assinder Harding, though the style is very similar to lighthouses and buildings designed by James Barnet and he claimed credit for the design. Building began in 1901 on February 26 and took over two years to complete, being officially opened on November 15, 1903. Over time the light was upgraded several times, but it wasn't until 1961 that it was converted to electricity and only in 1994 did it become fully automated. The lighthouse has guided ships safely along the shipping route for over 100 years now, with only three ships lost off the coast of Norah Head since it was opened, one being wrecked, one being blown up by a German mine and another sunk by a Japanese Submarine. Roy will do another visit and show you the memorial to these ships later in the year. If you would like to learn more about Norah Head Lighthouse click here.
