Norah Head, New South Wales

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Lighthouse (1903)

Norah Head is on a magnificent headland on the Central Coast, New South Wales, Australia, south of Newcastle and north of Sydney. The nearest main town is Toukley where there is lots of accommodation. The suburb also is home to a lighthouse with scenic views, which is also considered a venue for weddings. The site is that of the last built significant lighthouse, a 27 metre tower, completed in 1903 with assistance of Edward Hargraves of Noraville after considerable numbers of ships foundered on the coast near the headland. Originally powered by a kerosene concentric wick lamp and featuring a Fresnel lens prism floating on a mercury bath. The prism was rotated by descending weights, the light was electrified in 1961 and fully automated in 1995. The light flashes once in 15 seconds, and is visible to 27 nautical miles (50 km).

The lighthouse today.

The former lighthouse keepers cottage (Head Keeper's separate cottage and two assistants semi-detached quarters) are maintained, and two of these are available for rent.

Merchant navy memorial

It was the site of sea battles between the Japanese Navy and Merchant navy ships in World War II: Two ships were sunk, Nimbin (1067 tonnes) by a mine on 5 December 1940 and BHP's Iron Chieftain (4877 tonnes) by a submarine on 3 June 1942. The Age (4775 tonnes) was also attacked on 3 June 1942.