Cape Naturaliste
| Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Location: | Cape Naturaliste, Western Australia |
| Coordinates | 33°31′S 115°00′E / 33.517°S 115°E |
| Year first lit: | 1904 |
| Construction: | Limestone |
| Tower shape: | Cylindrical |
| Markings/Pattern: | White |
| Height: | 23 meters |
| Focal Height: | 123 metres |
| Original lens: | First order Fresnel by Chance Brothers |
| Intensity: | 930,000 cd |
| Range: | 25 nautical miles (46 km) |
| Characteristic: | Fl. (2) 10 s |
| Admiralty number: | K1790 |
| NGA number: | 8880 |
| ARLHS number: | AUS-040 |
Cape Naturaliste is a headland in the south western region of Western Australia at the western edge of the Geographe Bay. It is the northernmost point of the Leeuwin-Naturaliste Ridge which was named after the cape. Also the Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park and the Cape to Cape hiking track were named after this location.
Contents
|
Settlements
The nearest settlement is Bunker Bay - a community that evolved from holiday shacks to very expensive housing for wealthy residents. Further east, across the Bay, is Dunsborough - a much older settlement. Busselton is located still further east from there.
Lighthouse
Cape Naturaliste is also the site of a lighthouse which was activated in 1904. It is a 20 m high cylindrical tower built of limestone that still uses its original first order Fresnel lens made by Chance Brothers. The light characteristic is “Fl. (2) 10 s”, i.e. a group of two flashes every ten seconds, the focal plane is at 123 m above sea level. Another precious lense optic is displayed there, the second order Fresnel lens of the Jarman Island Light, as well as the original Great Sandy Islands beacon. Both items were originally used on the Pilbara coast further north.
The lighthouse was constructed of limestone quarried from nearby Bunker Bay, which was also known as the “Quarries”.
References
- Fornasiero, Jean; Monteath, Peter and West-Sooby, John. Encountering Terra Australis: the Australian voyages of Nicholas Baudin and Matthew Flinders, Kent Town, South Australia,Wakefield Press,2004. ISBN 1-86254-625-8
- Marchant, Leslie R. French Napoleonic Placenames of the South West Coast, Greenwood, WA. R.I.C. Publications, 2004. ISBN 1-74126-094-9
- Rowlett, Russ. “The Lighthouse Directory”. http://www.unc.edu/~rowlett/lighthouse/wau.htm.
- Lighthouses of Australia Inc.. “The Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse”. http://www.lighthouse.net.au/lights/WA/Cape%20Naturaliste/Cape%20Naturaliste.htm.