Moreton Bay Pile Light
Encyclopedia
Moreton Bay Pile Light was a pile lighthouse
positioned at the mouth of Brisbane River
, in Moreton Bay
, Queensland
, Australia
, marking the entrance to the port of Brisbane
. The light's early history was closely related to the dredging
of the Brisbane River. It was established in 1884 as a result of a new channel that was cut, and relocated in 1913 due to another change in the channels. The structure was badly damaged by a barge in 1945 and finally destroyed when hit by a tanker in 1949. An automated light operated on the ruins until 1966–1967 when it was removed.
, who was then appointed Marine Surveyor and was later to be appointed the Portmaster for Queensland, the path was later changed as the Superintendent of the dredge, Thomas Francis, located what he believed to be a better path. After much debate and a Select Committee of the Queensland Legislative Assembly, it was decided to continue with the path suggested by Francis. The dredging of the channel has completed in 1866 and it was known as the Francis Channel. However, Heath did not give up on his original path, and by 1882 work has began dredging a path according to Heath's original path and by 1883 the new channel was operational.
As the new channel was cut, a light was required to replace the 40 year old lightship
Rose, which was not suitable to be used at the exposed end of the new channel. The light was erected at 27°19′28"S 153°10′12"E together with signal and telegraph station by government staff. The structure was designed by Heath. It was hexagonal in form, containing six rooms of equal dimensions housing three persons, and had a total height of 98 feet (29.9 m). The seven piles supporting the structure, one at each point and one at the middle, were made of wrought iron
, 5.5 inches (14 cm) diameter, with 4 inches (10.2 cm) screws. They were screwed 24 feet (7.3 m) in the mud, in water which was 16 feet (4.9 m) at low tide and 23 feet (7 m) at high tide.
The operation of the lighthouse was delayed by bad weather. It was first used on 31 May 1884. The installation of the telegraph line to Brisbane was delayed even longer and it was only installed on 8 August. The apparatus was a 4th order dioptric lens and it was displayed at 44 feet (13.4 m) above high-water mark, at the top of the structure. The light characteristic shown was occulting for two seconds every 12 seconds during flood tide and fixed during the ebb. It was also sectored, showing white light when the ships are in the direction for the deep water channel and red otherwise, and had an intensified sector using reflected light from the unused direction.
In addition to the task of pointing ships into the channel, the lighthouse also signaled ships about the state of the tide. During the day this was performed using two day signals installed on two corners of the structure, while during the night two 6th order dioptric lights showing different colors coded the state of the tide. The different colours were changed manually, by lowering glass cylinders over the lanterns, which could be done from inside the structure. Records of the tide were also kept automatically by floats in tubes which graphed the tide level. The graphs were replaced every month and were sent to Greenwich
where they were kept.
The new light was constructed at 27°18′45"S 153°12′40"E and exhibited on 27 June 1913. Construction of this new light proved to be a whole different story than the first one due to the soft mud. During testing, a 82 feet (25 m) long test pile sank 20 feet (6.1 m) into the mud by its own weight. The reinforced concrete
foundation piles were driven 41 feet (12.5 m) into the mud, and the structure was bolted to them. 5000 long tons (5,080.3 t) of sand were also dumped on the area. The lens was transferred from the old lighthouse and the new light kept the characteristic as well, occulting for two seconds every 12 seconds during during flood tide and fixed otherwise. It also kept the sectoring and the intensification, as well as the tidal signals.
s remained on duty, and the lighthouse was soon repaired, though some damage remained. On 17 October 1949, the lighthouse was rammed by the 15,000 ton British tanker Wave Protector and destroyed. The three light keepers were thrown overboard and rescued by a lifeboat from the Wave Protector.
Pile lighthouse
A pile lighthouse is a type of lighthouse used primarily in Florida, including on open reefs adjacent to the Florida Keys. Another place in which pile lights are prevalent is Australia....
positioned at the mouth of Brisbane River
Brisbane River
The Brisbane River is the longest river in south east Queensland, Australia, and flows through the city of Brisbane, before emptying into Moreton Bay. John Oxley was the first European to explore the river who named it after the Governor of New South Wales, Thomas Brisbane in 1823...
, in Moreton Bay
Moreton Bay
Moreton Bay is a bay on the eastern coast of Australia 45 km from Brisbane, Queensland. It is one of Queensland's most important coastal resources...
, Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, marking the entrance to the port of Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
. The light's early history was closely related to the dredging
Dredge
Dredging is an excavation activity or operation usually carried out at least partly underwater, in shallow seas or fresh water areas with the purpose of gathering up bottom sediments and disposing of them at a different location...
of the Brisbane River. It was established in 1884 as a result of a new channel that was cut, and relocated in 1913 due to another change in the channels. The structure was badly damaged by a barge in 1945 and finally destroyed when hit by a tanker in 1949. An automated light operated on the ruins until 1966–1967 when it was removed.
The first light
Dredging of the first channel through the Brisbane River and into the Brisbane Port began in 1862. Though the path was originally planned by Lieutenant G. P. Heath, RNRoyal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
, who was then appointed Marine Surveyor and was later to be appointed the Portmaster for Queensland, the path was later changed as the Superintendent of the dredge, Thomas Francis, located what he believed to be a better path. After much debate and a Select Committee of the Queensland Legislative Assembly, it was decided to continue with the path suggested by Francis. The dredging of the channel has completed in 1866 and it was known as the Francis Channel. However, Heath did not give up on his original path, and by 1882 work has began dredging a path according to Heath's original path and by 1883 the new channel was operational.
As the new channel was cut, a light was required to replace the 40 year old lightship
Lightvessel
A lightvessel, or lightship, is a ship which acts as a lighthouse. They are used in waters that are too deep or otherwise unsuitable for lighthouse construction...
Rose, which was not suitable to be used at the exposed end of the new channel. The light was erected at 27°19′28"S 153°10′12"E together with signal and telegraph station by government staff. The structure was designed by Heath. It was hexagonal in form, containing six rooms of equal dimensions housing three persons, and had a total height of 98 feet (29.9 m). The seven piles supporting the structure, one at each point and one at the middle, were made of wrought iron
Wrought iron
thumb|The [[Eiffel tower]] is constructed from [[puddle iron]], a form of wrought ironWrought iron is an iron alloy with a very low carbon...
, 5.5 inches (14 cm) diameter, with 4 inches (10.2 cm) screws. They were screwed 24 feet (7.3 m) in the mud, in water which was 16 feet (4.9 m) at low tide and 23 feet (7 m) at high tide.
The operation of the lighthouse was delayed by bad weather. It was first used on 31 May 1884. The installation of the telegraph line to Brisbane was delayed even longer and it was only installed on 8 August. The apparatus was a 4th order dioptric lens and it was displayed at 44 feet (13.4 m) above high-water mark, at the top of the structure. The light characteristic shown was occulting for two seconds every 12 seconds during flood tide and fixed during the ebb. It was also sectored, showing white light when the ships are in the direction for the deep water channel and red otherwise, and had an intensified sector using reflected light from the unused direction.
In addition to the task of pointing ships into the channel, the lighthouse also signaled ships about the state of the tide. During the day this was performed using two day signals installed on two corners of the structure, while during the night two 6th order dioptric lights showing different colors coded the state of the tide. The different colours were changed manually, by lowering glass cylinders over the lanterns, which could be done from inside the structure. Records of the tide were also kept automatically by floats in tubes which graphed the tide level. The graphs were replaced every month and were sent to Greenwich
Greenwich
Greenwich is a district of south London, England, located in the London Borough of Greenwich.Greenwich is best known for its maritime history and for giving its name to the Greenwich Meridian and Greenwich Mean Time...
where they were kept.
Establishment
A recommendation to improve the channel was made by Lindon Bates in 1901. Bates recommended a new path, the cutting of which commenced in 1908 and was finished on 1 October 1912. With this new cutting the pile light had to be moved to a new position. Anticipating the need, tenders for the construction of the superstructure were published in January 1912 and were accepted by March of that year. On February 11, 1913 the old lighthouse was discontinued, though a small light was attached to the remaining platform which was eventually destroyed in the 1960s.The new light was constructed at 27°18′45"S 153°12′40"E and exhibited on 27 June 1913. Construction of this new light proved to be a whole different story than the first one due to the soft mud. During testing, a 82 feet (25 m) long test pile sank 20 feet (6.1 m) into the mud by its own weight. The reinforced concrete
Reinforced concrete
Reinforced concrete is concrete in which reinforcement bars , reinforcement grids, plates or fibers have been incorporated to strengthen the concrete in tension. It was invented by French gardener Joseph Monier in 1849 and patented in 1867. The term Ferro Concrete refers only to concrete that is...
foundation piles were driven 41 feet (12.5 m) into the mud, and the structure was bolted to them. 5000 long tons (5,080.3 t) of sand were also dumped on the area. The lens was transferred from the old lighthouse and the new light kept the characteristic as well, occulting for two seconds every 12 seconds during during flood tide and fixed otherwise. It also kept the sectoring and the intensification, as well as the tidal signals.
Damage and destruction
On 3 March 1945, the pile light was badly damaged when hit by a US refrigerated barge towed by a tug. The lighthouse keeperLighthouse keeper
A lighthouse keeper is the person responsible for tending and caring for a lighthouse, particularly the light and lens in the days when oil lamps and clockwork mechanisms were used. Keepers were needed to trim the wicks, replenish fuel, wind clockworks and perform maintenance tasks such as cleaning...
s remained on duty, and the lighthouse was soon repaired, though some damage remained. On 17 October 1949, the lighthouse was rammed by the 15,000 ton British tanker Wave Protector and destroyed. The three light keepers were thrown overboard and rescued by a lifeboat from the Wave Protector.