Lighthouses of VIC - Williamstown Lighthouse and Timeball Tower Williamstown, Victoria, Australia
By Team MavEtJu on 21-Oct-16. Waypoint GA8643

Lighthouses of VIC - Williamstown Lighthouse and Timeball Tower

The lighthouse on Point Gellibrand at Williamstown has had many incarnations. Firstly as a lighthouse, then a timeball tower, then a lighthouse again.

The original lighthouse was constructed in 1840, right on the point of Gellibrand's Point. It is most likely Victoria's first navigational aid of any distinction, though an unlit beacon had been on the site since 1835. It also may have been the first harbour light of its kind in Australia.

The second light operated until 1859 when it was replaced by a floating lightship anchored off the point in 4.5 fathoms of water.

The tower was yet to become a lighthouse again in 1934, but not before it served in an interesting role as a time ball tower.

As this place was the first permanent settlement is Victoria all survey are measure from the tide gauge at Gellibrand's Point. In 1853, a Mr R. L. J. Ellery, the first Government Astronomer, commenced determining accurate local mean time, and established a time ball so that shipmasters to correct their chronometers "at the fall of the ball" at exactly one o'clock each day.

First the flagstaff at the lighthouse was used to raise and lower the ball. It was later moved to the top of the new telegraph station nearby. The time ball operated from then until 1926 when the keeper fell ill and died. By then most ships had the more advanced technology of wireless communication time-signals. It is said that when the time was turned off not one person in Melbourne even noticed!

This was the third lighthouse and operated from 1934 to 1987. It is believed the lighthouse was re-established due to the loss of singularity against the light of the City behind the Point Gellibrand Pile Light.

Height: 27 metres
Pattern: Flashing every 7.5 seconds, Green & red sectors - Flash 2.5 seconds, Eclipse 5 seconds
Range: 13 nautical miles / 24 km

Photo: Brian Lord

Fun fact: In 1854, ships captains had complained about the visibility of the time ball so the keeper at the lighthouse would darken the light at 2 minutes to 8pm then reignite the light at exactly 8pm to give the true time.

For more information, see Williamstown Lighthouse at lighthouses.org.au.

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