Lighthouses of NSW - South Solitary Lighthouse Sandy Beach, New South Wales, Australia
By Team MavEtJu on 16-Oct-16. Waypoint GA8560

Lighthouses of NSW - South Solitary Lighthouse

This lighthouse was considered the most isolated on the New South Wales coast. It was the first and the last New South Wales lighthouse to use kerosene.

As early as 1856 it had been suggested that a lighthouse be established on either North of South Solitary Islands, near Coffs Harbour. When asked, ships masters favoured South Solitary over North Solitary for the location of a light by 3 to 1.

Pedal radio established in 1937 so the the keepers could communicate with Norah Head. This was later replaced by a Bendix radio which relieved the need for pedalling. Previously the only communication with the mainland was by signalling lamp or heliograph.

Height: 20 metres
Elevation: 58 metres
Pattern: Flash white every 5.00 seconds
Range: 20 nautical miles / 37 km

Photo: Ian Clifford

Fun fact:

Conditions for the builders of the new light were most unfavourable as stated in From Dusk Till Dawn:

"The weather was often so bad that several times steamers attempting to land materials and supplies had to slip their cables and run for shelter. A small crane erected on the landing was twice washed away during construction; since then three others have been washed away. Once during construction a hurricane drove the sea over the centre of the island (twenty-seven metres elevation but not the highest point of the island)."

It goes on to say:

"A tiny eleven hectares in area, the island supports only harsh, scrubby grass. The first government supervisor arrived at night and when he saw it next morning he was so startled that he remained only a fortnight."

For more information, see South Solitary Lighthouse at lighthouses.org.au.

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