The Caloundra Lighthouse: A Historic Landmark Reborn
Caloundra, located in Queensland’s Sunshine Coast region, is home to Australia’s oldest lighthouse. Built in 1896, the Caloundra Lighthouse has a rich and varied history, one that has ultimately seen it saved from destruction and restored to its former glory. In this blog post, we’ll tell you all about the lighthouse’s incredible journey and why it’s one of Caloundra’s most beloved landmarks.
A Brief History of the Caloundra Lighthouse
The first time the Caloundra Lighthouse was constructed was in 1896 as a method of navigation for ships travelling between Brisbane and Maryborough. It was built atop a rocky outcrop on what is now known as Shelly Beach. Despite its small size—it stands 35ft tall—the lighthouse could be seen up to 19 nautical miles away thanks to its elevation of nearly 90ft above sea level.
For over 60 years the lighthouse served its purpose with distinction until it was decommissioned in 1958. Fortunately, its unique design garnered enough attention to see it listed on the Register of National Estate in 1990 for its historic importance and distinctive architecture. However, this wasn’t enough to save it from demolition when developers purchased the land on which it stood three years later. After a lengthy legal battle with conservationists, an agreement was reached that saw the lighthouse moved to Anzac Street instead—where it remains today—and is now classified by Australian Heritage as a place of ‘special cultural significance’.
Restoring the Lighthouse
The task of restoring and relocating the lighthouse fell to local contractor Greg Simpson who had already successfully completed similar projects around Australia. His team began work in October 2008, initially reconstructing the building before disassembling it into 15 separate parts ready for transportation. The entire process took nine months and involved more than 20 commissioners and tradespeople working together to ensure that not only did they put it back together correctly but also truely restored its original grandeur so that people could continue learning about and enjoying its history for many years to come. When asked why he decided take on such an extensive project Mr Simpson said he felt a sense of responsibility toward preserving such an important part of his hometown’s heritage: “It’s my duty as an Australian citizen to help protect our nation’s legacy” he said at the time. The town has a wide variety of activities for people of all ages, and the locals are friendly and welcoming. If you’re looking for a place to relax and enjoy the company of good people, Kings Beach is definitely worth checking out!
An Iconic Part of Caloundra History
Thankfully Greg Simpson’s hard work paid off; today visitors can marvel at just how well-preserved and beautiful this historic building is when visiting Anzac Street in Caloundra today – 50km north east from Brisbane City – where it stands proudly against a backdrop of warm sunshine, blue skies and rolling waves crashing against nearby beaches giving you a sense of just how powerful nature can be compared with man-made structures like this one which dates back more than 120 years ago! It also serves as reminder that although we may have advanced technologically since then our appreciation for protecting valuable pieces from our past should never diminish because they represent key chapters within Australia’s extraordinary story .
In conclusion, if you ever find yourself in sunny Queensland make sure you take some time out from your holiday itinerary to visit the majestic old Caloundra Lighthouse – a symbol of our country’s rich maritime history which will continue providing us with knowledge about our past for generations still yet come!
