The light at the most easterly point of Australia is repainting its rooms and changing the bathwater.
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) is currently undertaking some routine maintenance on the Cape Byron Lighthouse.
The project will include repainting the inside of the Lantern Room and cleaning the mercury bath that the lens rotates on.
Historically, mercury baths were a common feature in lighthouses to allow the very heavy crystal lenses to rotate smoothly by floating on a bed of mercury.
These mercury baths are still in use at a number of the heritage lighthouses managed by AMSA and are carefully maintained to ensure their continued safe operation.
While the works are underway a temporary light has been installed on the lighthouse which is only visible from the sea.
The works are expected to take about five weeks to complete, then it will open it’s all-seeing eye once more brighter than ever.
The famous Byron lighthouse at the edge of the Pacific ocean needs some specific maintenance so the brushes are out, the paint is out and the spanners are in while a few nuts are tightened, The bright tourists then are enlightened.
Well Thank You EchoNetDaily..we were quite concerned about our Lighthouse beam that we have enjoyed for 46 years reflecting on our home at Tyagarah/Myocum appreciate this knowledge.G&J Groves.
Still no light. Missing it up here in Federal.