Barrenjoey Lighthouse

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The Barrenjoey Head lighthouse was the third light constructed on the headland in the Northern Beaches district of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. The heritage-listed lighthouse was completed in 1881.HistoryDesigned by NSW colonial architect James Barnet, its construction cost £13,695, plus £2,210 for the lamp. At an elevation of, it is visible to a distance of out to sea.A customs station was established in 1843, as the Headland marked the entrance to Broken Bay and Pittwater – considered to be the back door to Sydney for smugglers. The first report of any lighted beacon on the headland was in 1855, when a fire was raised in a basket to assist mariners during storms. Broken Bay and the Pittwater were a safe haven in storms to vessels carrying coal from Newcastle to Sydney. Similarly, barges carrying food down the Hawkesbury River were a key food source for Sydney, and would harbour in the bay, awaiting favourable weather before making the 14km journey to Sydney.Later, in 1868, two wooden lighthouses known as the Stewart Towers, were built at either end of the headland to guide ships in. The need for a permanent light led to the construction of the current lighthouse.The current tower is unpainted, and built of the rich-coloured local sandstone. The original lighting apparatus was a fixed red dioptric of 700 candlepower with 4 oil wick burners. In 1900, an explosion followed by a fire destroyed the ornamental roof on the adjacent oil house. The flames were subdued before reaching the tower.