Darling Harbour, Cape Bowling Green lighthouse
The Cape Bowling Green lighthouse is located at the Australian National Maritime Museum, at Darling Harbour. It was originally built in 1874 at Cape Bowling Green, a low sandy spit 70 kilometres south of Townsville, Queensland. It was one of 22 identical lighthouses built on the North Queensland coast to guide vessels around the Great Barrier Reef, where many ships had run aground. The frame of this 22 metre high lighthouse was built from local hardwood and clad with iron plates from Britain. It was staffed by a keeper and three assistants and moved twice, in 1878 and 1908, when threatened by the sea. In 1913, an incandescent mantle was installed, fuelled by vapourised kerosene. It was destaffed in 1920 when an automatic acetylene light was installed, operated by a sun valve. It was replaced by a modern tower in 1987 and then transported to the north wharf of the maritime museum in Sydney in 1994.
I'm glad they are not just tearing these beautiful old lighthouses down, turning them into museums are a fantastic idea.
ReplyDeletewhat a great structure and history.
ReplyDeleteI love lighthouses and this one is such a beauty! It's wonderful to know these are being saved and turned into museums, fantastic idea indeed! Gorgeous blue skies as always and gorgeous capture -- as always! Have a wonderful weekend, Jim!
ReplyDeleteSylvia
Nice lighthouse. I love that is looks to be in an urban neighborhood. That must be nice to wake up to.
ReplyDeleteWow! A refugee from the north :-)
ReplyDeleteVery interesting post - thanks!
tff
Looks like this one has had quite a checkered career. Nice to see that she has been preserved
ReplyDeletegreat blues
ReplyDeleteBellissimo !!!!!!
ReplyDeleteBuona serata :)
Myriam
I agree with Ryan, it would be a sin to tear down such beautiful reminders of days past, and of all the ships and lives this light has saved.
ReplyDelete-- K
Kay, Alberta, Canada
An Unfittie's Guide to Adventurous Travel
Wow, wonderful and interesting in the same time!
ReplyDeleteYou are invited here, my friend!
Sorry! Ha ha
Photographis:
http://graphis-artwork.blogspot.com/
Best regards!
Lighthouses alway have special meaning to me as they are a "guiding light." Beautiful picture.
ReplyDeleteLove the perspective in this one.
ReplyDeleteInteresting history. Thanks for sharing. My contribute this thursday is a flying dragon stucked and entangled in the wire to a ski lift.
love the blue and white
ReplyDeleteWhat a great history for a lighthouse. Years since last seen by me. Please have a peaceful Friday.
ReplyDeletedaily athens
Thank you for visiting my site. I am now your newest follower, and I also invite you to follow my blog.
ReplyDeleteThe Disconnected Writer
http://thedisconnectedwriter.blogspot.com/
A magnificent photo of the lighthouse with the city in the background, and of course that incredible blue sky.
ReplyDeleteTwo superb photos. Love the stories behind the structures and the wonderful Sydney sky above them.
ReplyDeletelong may she shine!
ReplyDeleteAloha from Waikiki :)
Comfort Spiral
><}}(°>
<°)}}><
Beautiful blue and thanks for the information !
ReplyDeleteThanks for the background - and such a great crisp picture
ReplyDeleteYour sky is spectacularly blue.
ReplyDeletewww.ewok1993.wordpress.com
There is something about a lighthouse that is appealing. Though their usefulness is in decline the public can’t bear to lose them. Like endangered species, some man made thing beg to be perserved.
ReplyDeleteHi!
ReplyDeleteAmazing to see such a timeless structure amidst all the high rise buildings! What a great shot!
~Maria
So lovely! Love the idea of saving old lighthouses!
ReplyDeleteI love lighthouses, they should always be preserved!! Beautiful sunny shot.
ReplyDeleteSunrise
This is a beautiful lighthouse and much higher than the only one I know in Australia: the lighthouse on Grassy Hill in Cooktown. Grassy Hill is the highest place in Cooktown. Thanks for this information!
ReplyDeleteFantastic colors and good place!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful SkyWatch posting!
ReplyDeletethank you for sharing this beautiful photo work
Happy SWF! Have a good weekend,
Regards, Bram
My SkyWatch on WordPress
Seen on Sky Watch Friday, Season 4, Episode 18
I could look at lighthouses all day, I find them fascinating. This one is so beautiful against the blue sky.
ReplyDeleteThe Road to Here
Beautiful shot and great lighthouse. I had to look up what a sun valve is, though. Very interesting...
ReplyDeleteI love lighthouses and this is a gorgeous shot ! I find them so romantic !
ReplyDeleteIt looks great. An interesting piece of history.
ReplyDeleteI have always liked pictures of lighthouses, and this is a strikingly beautiful picture of this lighthouse with the dreamy clouds in the perfectly beautiful blue sky background.
ReplyDeleteI just love lighthouses.
ReplyDeleteThis is a beautiful lighthouse.
ReplyDeleteLovely that they have kept it. I love the contrast of the old lighthouse and the new buildings.
ReplyDeleteWonderful image! So glad the lighthouse is being preserved even though it is no longer needed for its original purpose.
ReplyDeleteWow I have never seen a lighthouse in the middle of modern structure. Great capture!
ReplyDeleteLooking at the sky
Super image and post for SWF, J Bar!
ReplyDeletejim,
ReplyDeletegreat shots here. i stayed in darling harbour several years ago. great place for photography.
nikonsniper steve
Nice & Crisp composition..
ReplyDeletePixellicious Photos
well kept history for a beautiful lighthouse.
ReplyDelete