Description

The Iron Pot lighthouse is Australia's oldest existing tower. Although the Macquarie light in NSW was built earlier, in 1818, that tower was rebuilt in 1883. The tower on Iron Pot Island was first lit on September 16 1833. The lantern, manufactured in Hobart, was raised and held by halyards. Three convicts, John Booth, William Spendelon and John Knox were the first to tend the light. The island was visited weekly, but rations were supplied monthly. The keepers lived in tents until construction of a stone hut began in late November 1832. A permanent tower was designed by Civil Engineer, John Lee Archer. It was three storeys high, of rough rubble work, building in the perpendicular spars erected by Lieut. Hill and using the horizontal headpiece for the purpose of hoisting materials. The new light was lit for the first time on the 16th January 1833 and has shone every night since - focal plane 20 metres; three white flashes every 10 seconds, 12 metre square rubblestone tower with lantern and gallery, painted white with a single broad red horizontal band at the top of the tower.