Time Ball Tower, Esplanade, Semaphore, SA, Australia
Posted by: 
blingg
S 34° 50.313 E 138° 28.844
54H E 269635 N 6141966
The only time ball tower in S.A..
Waymark Code: WM15AGD
Location: South Australia, Australia
Date Posted: 11/22/2021
Views: 3
The stone walled Semaphore Time Ball Tower was in use 1875-1932 and is the only such tower in the State. It is significant for its uniqueness and for being a relic of the era before wireless telegraphy when the accuracy of vessels’ chronometers was checked by ‘rating’ them against time balls in major ports.
The ball was raised manually to halfmast at 1255 and to the masthead at 1257– a total distance of 13 feet. A ball in diameter of six feet was then dropped by electric command from the Observatory at precisely 1300.
In 1992, the Tower was restored, the ball still drops at 1300 daily.
List: Register of the National Estate
Place ID: 6296
Place File No: 3/02/021/0023
URL database reference: [Web Link]
Status:
Registered
Year built: 1875
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