The Spectacular Lighthouse of Sandy Cape

Paradise or ‘K’Gari’ – this is the aboriginal name for Fraser island. Undeniably, the word ‘paradise’ fits the island very well for Fraser island is really a place to behold. It is a lavish sand island which covers over 76 miles long. The island is surrounded by the sparkling seas and it is totally covered by a thick rainforest, with streams, rivers, creeks and lakes scattered around the different areas of the island. Some areas of the seas near Hervey Bay are even perfect for whale watching escapades. Fraser island has also a great history, it was first inhabited by the Australian aborigines and has been a favorite place to be explored of by some European explorers. One of these explorers is the famous James Cook who even labeled the island as Indian Head because there were lots of aboriginal people in the area. And of course, aside from several natural attractions seen in here, there were also man-made attractions which have historical significance and which contributes greatly to the whole beauty of this majestic island. One of the notable historical landmarks located in here is the Sandy Cape Lighthouse.

Sandy Cape Lighthouse was built to answer the needs of the sailors who sail the seas near Fraser island, because there had been many accidents which resulted to the loss of about 20 vessels in an area off Sandy Cape called Breaksea Split, wherein even the well-famed Captain Cook’s voyage was also halted to the same destiny.

Sandy Cape Lighthouse was built by the Rooney Brothers. In Sandy Cape’s doorway was a sign “Kitson & Co LEEDS 1866″. For those who are curious if this lighthouse is still active, yes it is and it never ceased to guide the ships safely along their voyages. The lighthouse is 85 ft high and the diameter at the base is 23 ft. It has two entrances, one at the bottom and one is above the ground which is accessible by a staircase. The one which is interesting is the bottom entrance because it features a display of multifarious maritime artifacts. The lighthouse is conical in form. It is made of prefabricated cast iron plates with splayed flanges at the base and to complete its stance it is painted white. Currently, the lighthouse produces one white flash every ten seconds and this flash is visible for 21 nautical miles. The keeper of the Sandy Cape Lighthouse diligently keep the blazing light of the beacon burning bright. It has five floors and it is connected by a spiral iron staircase with cast iron steps. Around the premises of the lighthouse is a small cemetery with several stone headstones. The site custodian is the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service but the light is operated by Australian Maritime Safety Authority and it is amazingly powered by solar panels. Atop the tower is a cantilevered iron balcony with an iron balustrade and on the top of balcony is the lantern room with a dome-shaped roof which is painted bright red. Nowadays, the lighthouse has been an important place for weather observations providing relevant data for Fraser meteorology.

While on top of the Sandy Cape Lighthouse you can watch the spectacle of the vast colored cliffs of the pinnacles, the forest covered hill with its wild flowers and the deep blue colored seas surrounding the island. In addition, there are great fishing spots along the coastline near the lighthouse so you can also enjoy fishing while in here. You can also bathe on the cool blue waters of the sea and if you love hiking, you can also try to hike back to the Central Station for a more detailed view of the scenic attractions in the Fraser Island.

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