The Lighthouse that moved
Large lighthouses of the type rebuilt in Kingscote were normally found in isolated regions. They were operated and maintained around the clock usually by three men and their supporting families, who were normally housed on site. Economics has dictated the replacement of many of these lighthouses with modern, fully automated unmanned devices.
In 1972 as a result of this policy, it was decided to demolish the Cape Willoughby Light. The great weight of the cast iron was also damaging the structure.
Large lighthouses of the type rebuilt in Kingscote were normally found in isolated regions. They were operated and maintained around the clock usually by three men and their supporting families, who were normally housed on site. Economics has dictated the replacement of many of these lighthouses with modern, fully automated unmanned devices.
In 1972 as a result of this policy, it was decided to demolish the Cape Willoughby Light. The great weight of the cast iron was also damaging the structure.
Originally called the Sturt Tower, it was the first lighthouse to be built in the state. When the demolition came to the notice of the Kangaroo Island Branch of The National Trust, determined efforts were made to save both the tower and the mechanism for posterity.
The original lighthouse at Cape Willoughby is now capped by a lightweight fibreglass lantern, and is open to visitors. The original "works" and housing of the old light weighing many tons were given to The National trust.
It was decided to re-erect these on a shorter tower at the Hope Cottage Museum in KIngscote.
The original lighthouse at Cape Willoughby is now capped by a lightweight fibreglass lantern, and is open to visitors. The original "works" and housing of the old light weighing many tons were given to The National trust.
It was decided to re-erect these on a shorter tower at the Hope Cottage Museum in KIngscote.
This created many problems, one of which was the reluctance of any local builder willing to attempt the construction of the round and convexly tapered walls. Piecing together the many scattered parts of the light and its structure was also a big problem. The Kingscote Council helped by agreeing to lay the very substantial foundations required. A specially designed rotating trammel enabled Bill Budarick, an unemployed truck driver, to lay the bricks to a specific design. It grew brick by brick, an inner and outer wall filled progressively by reinforced concrete. A retired farmer, Jack Elsegood, smoothly plastered the brickwork with cement render.
A council mechanic, Johnny Edwards, did much of the welding, especially the central pillar which had been salvaged from a damaged wharf pile. The floor joists were salvaged telegraph poles (RSJs'), and the first level flooring of 8mm steel sheet was a recycled truck tray.
Pilkington Glass kindly replaced both the tinted and clear heavy plate glass that had been destroyed during demolition.
The height of the resultant tower (30 feet) was determined by the maximum lifting height of the only crane then on Kangaroo Island. This crane was willingly provided by The Electricity Trust of South Australia.
Pilkington Glass kindly replaced both the tinted and clear heavy plate glass that had been destroyed during demolition.
The height of the resultant tower (30 feet) was determined by the maximum lifting height of the only crane then on Kangaroo Island. This crane was willingly provided by The Electricity Trust of South Australia.
A heritage grant of $6,000 paid for Bill Budarick's wages, for the making of the outside visitor's gallery, and for other steel work which had to be replaced.
All of the effort resulted in a working example of an historic lighthouse. The acquisition, transportation, design and organisation of the project created an interesting challenge for the then chairman of the Kangaroo Island National Trust, John Downing.
Whilst some licence was taken for safety and convenience, the mechanism is as designed and built by Chance Brothers of Birmingham in 1872.
The finished structure was opened in 1975.
All of the effort resulted in a working example of an historic lighthouse. The acquisition, transportation, design and organisation of the project created an interesting challenge for the then chairman of the Kangaroo Island National Trust, John Downing.
Whilst some licence was taken for safety and convenience, the mechanism is as designed and built by Chance Brothers of Birmingham in 1872.
The finished structure was opened in 1975.
The light came from an incandescent mantle fueled by kerosene and hand pumped air, similar to a "Tilley" lamp, but considerably larger at 1205 candlepower. The lens assembly consists of 596 curved prisms and 16 bulls eye lenses. It is approximately five feet across and seven feet high. The whole mechanism rotates effortlessly once a minute on a frictionless bed of mercury.
Some power source is necessary to maintain rotation. This comes from a mechanism similar to a huge grandfather clock, where the pull of a heavy weight on a cable turns a series of gears (known as the "clockworks"), at a steady rate. The weight needed to be rewound periodically by the light-keeper.
Some power source is necessary to maintain rotation. This comes from a mechanism similar to a huge grandfather clock, where the pull of a heavy weight on a cable turns a series of gears (known as the "clockworks"), at a steady rate. The weight needed to be rewound periodically by the light-keeper.
