South Channel Pile Light
This remnant of 19th century channel markers that lead Melbourne bound ships through the South Channel was established in 1874. It was the front light, with the Eastern Light at McCrae the rear light.
It is a single story octagonal structure, about 9 metres across and standing on timber piles in the water. The structure is the only one of its kind still intact in Australia.
The structure included a living room with a fireplace and chimney, a bedroom with 4 bunks and an inspector’s office, which was also used as a store room. All this in a space only six metres in diameter. A hole in the floor served as a toilet.
Rainwater was collected from the roof and stored in tanks. Keepers would wait for a passenger ferry to pass each morning to receive the newspaper, which was tossed to them from the deck.
The light powered by a kerosene lantern that had to be kept alight by the keepers until the introduction of bottled acetylene gas in 1925.
The light operated for 111 years until 1985 when it was turned off for a trial period. It was never turned back on.
The structure quickly deteriorated due to lack of maintenance and vandalism. The wood was rotting, the steel was rusting and the piles were becoming unsound. The light was overrun with birds nesting inside and out.
Printed on high quality photo paper and shipped in a dent resistant tube.
Slight cropping may result due to the aspect ratio of the different print sizes.
Postage is included.
This remnant of 19th century channel markers that lead Melbourne bound ships through the South Channel was established in 1874. It was the front light, with the Eastern Light at McCrae the rear light.
It is a single story octagonal structure, about 9 metres across and standing on timber piles in the water. The structure is the only one of its kind still intact in Australia.
The structure included a living room with a fireplace and chimney, a bedroom with 4 bunks and an inspector’s office, which was also used as a store room. All this in a space only six metres in diameter. A hole in the floor served as a toilet.
Rainwater was collected from the roof and stored in tanks. Keepers would wait for a passenger ferry to pass each morning to receive the newspaper, which was tossed to them from the deck.
The light powered by a kerosene lantern that had to be kept alight by the keepers until the introduction of bottled acetylene gas in 1925.
The light operated for 111 years until 1985 when it was turned off for a trial period. It was never turned back on.
The structure quickly deteriorated due to lack of maintenance and vandalism. The wood was rotting, the steel was rusting and the piles were becoming unsound. The light was overrun with birds nesting inside and out.
Printed on high quality photo paper and shipped in a dent resistant tube.
Slight cropping may result due to the aspect ratio of the different print sizes.
Postage is included.
This remnant of 19th century channel markers that lead Melbourne bound ships through the South Channel was established in 1874. It was the front light, with the Eastern Light at McCrae the rear light.
It is a single story octagonal structure, about 9 metres across and standing on timber piles in the water. The structure is the only one of its kind still intact in Australia.
The structure included a living room with a fireplace and chimney, a bedroom with 4 bunks and an inspector’s office, which was also used as a store room. All this in a space only six metres in diameter. A hole in the floor served as a toilet.
Rainwater was collected from the roof and stored in tanks. Keepers would wait for a passenger ferry to pass each morning to receive the newspaper, which was tossed to them from the deck.
The light powered by a kerosene lantern that had to be kept alight by the keepers until the introduction of bottled acetylene gas in 1925.
The light operated for 111 years until 1985 when it was turned off for a trial period. It was never turned back on.
The structure quickly deteriorated due to lack of maintenance and vandalism. The wood was rotting, the steel was rusting and the piles were becoming unsound. The light was overrun with birds nesting inside and out.
Printed on high quality photo paper and shipped in a dent resistant tube.
Slight cropping may result due to the aspect ratio of the different print sizes.
Postage is included.