Norah Head Lighthouse Book

An accomplished architectural draughtsman, Tony James volunteered as a tour guide and then wrote and illustrated our book of Norah Head Lighthouse. It is dedicated “To the Lighthouse Keepers and their families for their invaluable contribution to Maritime safety”.

Norah Head Light was the last manned lighthouse to be built on the NSW coast. The book’s stories show its first people, its opening in 1903 with three keepers, sixty years without electricity, war ships and shipwrecks; with quotes from old newspaper articles, with heart and humour, you won’t be disappointed. We celebrate her 120 years of service.

The superbly detailed book has illustrations on nearly every page. It presents a history of the Lighthouse from communicating with flags before radio, and when the lamp only had a kerosene flame; to the sixties when the Lighthouse was electrified, and then totally automated in the nineties. It shares the positions of all recorded shipwrecks on the coastline between Barrenjoey and Nobby’s Head lighthouses.

Fresnel’s lens, made by Chance Bros in Birmingham UK, focused the lamp to save sailors, cargoes and ships, making it possible for countries to trade safely. Tony’s meticulous and stunning artwork of the workings of the watch mechanism rotating our unique Lens in the lantern room, complement the enlightening text about how each unique Fresnel Lens works.

From the visible 270 degree span of the Tasman Sea coastline between Sydney and Newcastle at the top balcony, the light warned sail ships away from the invisible shipwrecking reef stretching from Birdie Island to Soldiers on the Central Coast of NSW. There are other books with a range of lighthouse characteristics. There is only one with the unique insights of Norah Head Lighthouse. We hope you enjoy reading it.