Lady Bay Upper Lighthouse, Warrnambool, Victoria, Australia
Posted by: 
bucketeer
S 38° 23.375 E 142° 29.147
54H E 629757 N 5749913
Originally builtm in 1858, this light and it's associated buildings, now forms part of the Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village
Waymark Code: WM7J2K
Location: Victoria, Australia
Date Posted: 10/30/2009
Views: 14
The Lady Bay Lighthouse Complex was originally built in 1858-9 from basalt quarried on the Maribyrnong River in Melbourne, as the Middle Island Lighthouse, near the mouth of the Merri River.
It had a fixed white light run on oil.
It soon became apparent that the middle island location was not satisfactory with the light obscured by heavy seas.
During 1871-72, the lighthouse and all associated buildings were relocated stone by stone to replace the obelisk on top of Flagstaff hill and became the Upper Lady Bay Lighthouse.
At the same time the lower light was placed on a bluestone obelisk that had been erected there as a navigation marker in 1854.
The light was originally powered by oil, then gas and later electricity. In 1988, it was converted to solar power. In 1993, the solar panel was removed and replaced by a 240 volt battery charger.
The light is stiil in use as a navigation aid, flashing a white light 1 second every 5 seconds.
The light has an elevation of 33 metres and a range of 6 nautical miles
Access
The lighthouse reserve is now part of the Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum. An entry fee is charged.
The posted coordinates are outside of the Mueseum grounds and this is the position the photographs were taken.
References
Heritage Victoria Website 30/10/2009 (
visit link)
and
Lighthouses of Australia Inc. Website 30/10/09 (
visit link)