Position update 42:09.29S 145:19.93E

 

Just out of interest the presently in commission Portland Bill Lighthouse was built in 1906, designed by Sir Thomas Matthews while Low Head was built in 1888, eighteen years before and designed by Robert Huckson, so maybe there are links between the two designs from previous ideas and between the two designers.

 

The exhibits inside Australia’s oldest Signals Station are part of the fine museum now housed in the building, and the taller lighthouse is Portland Bill. The red belt in the white paintwork on both lighthouses is to improve visibility of the structure from the sea and we came across the tall but all white Cape Sorell Lighthouse outside Macquarie Harbour that we could have done with being visible after its light turned off around six in the morning yesterday as without its revealing light it disappeared into the thick smoke haze and was only visible again when we were well in to the harbour mouth approaching Hell’s Gate. More about that later.