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A description of the history and operation of the Montague Light was provided in
1882 by James Barnet when he wrote that...
The lantern, optical apparatus and top floor
carrying the same were provided by the Government. The two former having been
constructed by the well known firm of Chance Bros and Co. near Birmingham (who
execute most of the lighthouse work of that description for the English and
Colonial Governments) for the sum of 3103 pounds and is a splendid piece of
workmanship.
The principal of the fixed and flashing lights is that the optical portion
containing the lenses which refract the light is divided into eight sides
forming an octagon: in every alternate side the lenses are fixed horizontally
from bottom to top, the intermediate sides being composed of lenses fixed in
concentric circles.
The former produce a broad beam of steady light the whole height of the
lenses during the time that part of the apparatus is revolving... then comes
an eclipse of the light... followed by a flash produced by the armular lenses
condensing the light into one great concentrated beam. This is again followed
by an eclipse... which completes the revolution of the apparatus.
Source: Lighthouses of Australia -
The Narooma Lighthouse Museum
A splendid piece of workmanship... was how
James Barnet the Colonial Architect described the cut-crystal, dioptric lens
you see here in 1882. By this time it was already in operation at the top of the
Montague Lighthouse, enabling both a fixed and a flashing light to be shown from
the tower.
Seated on a pedestal containing steel rollers, the light was rotated by a
clockwork mechanism driven by a series of weights housed in a column running
down the centre of the lighthouse.
Originally purchased along with a kerosene lantern for 3,103 pounds (equivalent
to $310,000 today), the lens reflected light from a variety of sources over the
years including both kerosene lamps, pressurised kerosene mantle burners and
quartz halogen lamps.
Direct sunlight however was not a desirable light source and the lens was
shrouded during the day to prevent reflected light starting bushfires on the
mainland. Source: Lighthouses of Australia -
The Narooma Lighthouse Museum |
