Friday 20 August 2010

The Wedding Cakes

Green Eastern Channel Light
Today the harbour was buffetted by fresh to strong north-westerly winds. However, the temperature reached 25C even though we are still in winter. I joined about 80 afficionados from the Maritime Museum for a 3 hour tour by heritage ferry around some of the lighthouses located in the outer harbour.


There are two channel light houses in the outer part of Sydney Harbour which are known as the Wedding Cakes, for fairly obvious reasons. The lighthouse with the green light is in the Eastern Channel (built in 1908) and the lighthouse with the red light is in the Western Channel (built in 1924).

There are about 30 lighthouses of various types dotted around Sydney Harbour indicating the deepest channels and warning of submerged reefs and other dangers. Over the years, upwards of 90 collisions have resulted in a vessel sinking. They are not all still on the harbour floor.

Red Western Channel Light

A member of the Skywatch Friday community.

29 comments:

Anonymous said...

What a beautiful day for sightseeing and the lighthouses are lovely!

jabblog said...

They are very striking channel markers! There should be no excuse for missing them ;-)

Rinkly Rimes said...

You introduce me to aspects of Sydney I've never even thought about! You're an education in yourself!

Jim said...

I'm not familiar with these. Maybe I've seen them before but never really paid a lot of attention. Great contrasting shots too.

Ann said...

That would be fun. Like the sky in the top one.

Anonymous said...

Great tour of Sydney Harbour, th most beautiful harbour by far!

Anonymous said...

I wonder what the metal looking frame with the spikes on the eastern light does? A barricade?

Carolyn Ford said...

Perfect name! I am going to see Sydney Harbor in a few months if it kills me! I look forward to your posts as a preview!

Julie said...

Andrew, yes, the spikes are to ward off vandals, especially drunken ones in the middle of the night.

A number of lighthouses that I have not shown have these spikes around them.

clairz said...

These are wonderful photos, and now you have taught me something, as well. Happy Skywatching!

January Zelene said...

lovely photos. the lighthouse indeed looks like a wedding cake.

mine is here

Unknown said...

Sydney has it all.

Rajesh said...

Beautiful light houses. The sky in the background is amazing.

Peter said...

A sparkling blue shot - love these wedding cakes.

Ebie said...

Beautiful! They are tiered and layered like wedding cakes! Amazing clouds and skies!

freefalling said...

25 stinkin', rotten degrees!!!!
10 here.
I'm reading Australians: Origins to Eureka (T.Keneally). It's so amazing this incredible city of Sydney grew from such desperate beginnings.

Anonymous said...

Interesting story, and such a variety of shots.

Boom Nisanart said...

Impressive ! I love the first one : )

Unknown said...

Beautiful blue skies, and the lighthouses are amazing

Tommy Andre Nekkoy said...

I find motivation and inspiration by looking at your work.

I hope you took time to watch the rest of my blog, and not only the chicken?

Joan Elizabeth said...

What a nice bright and warm day to be out on the water. 10 here too.

Anonymous said...

The Wedding Cakes :)
I like that type lighthouse as well as the brick lighthouse! Great photos!!

Unknown said...

what a wonderful site, excellent series.

Susan Ellis said...

Love that they're referred to as Wedding Cakes...very perky ones too.Great photos Julie

Francisca said...

Lovely tour of your wedding cakes. What unique structures!

Julie said...

Indeed, friends, unique structures. There are others that I have, too, plus others that I have yet to capture but will involve hob-nailed boots out of headlands.

Anonymous said...

Lighthouses are lovely things, nice to have them near. Interesting with the skyline of the city, instead of a view of the archipelago.

Lew said...

I love the contrast of the strong light and shadows in these shots! And I'm glad you had a lttle wamth for your tour of the harbor.

Julie said...

Thank you, Lew. I appreciate very much comments on older posts.