Point Perpendicular (Old)

Built to replace the inaccurately placed Cape St George Lighthouse, the 21 metre tower & cottages, the first of three similar towers, Cape Byron 1901 & Norah Head 1903, were designed by Charles Harding. They are considered a close parody of his predecessor, James Barnett’s work. It was the first lighthouse in Australia to be constructed of pre-cast concrete blocks – made on site from local aggregate – lifted into position above a mass concrete base. The contractor Edward Kelly undertook the work for 20,280 pounds.

This new building technique eliminated the use of formwork used for the construction of mass concrete structures reducing cost & construction time. It also has the advantage of obviating disfiguring cracks caused by shrinkage of material on mass concrete buildings. Whilst common in other parts of the world this construction technique was new to the colony.
Point Perpendicular was lit for the first time on the 1st May 1899 by the first head keeper William Parker who had transferred from Cape St George.
On the 3rd of January 1994 after 94 years of service the light replaced by a “lattice” style tower and solar powered beacon and the lightstation demanned.