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{{Short description|Lighthouse in New South Wales, Australia}}
{{Use Australian English|date=April 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}
{{Infobox lighthouse
| name = Tacking Point Lighthouse
| location = [[Port Macquarie]]<br />[[New South Wales]]<br />[[Australia]]
| image = Tacking Point Lighthouse qtl1 cropped.jpg
| caption = Tacking Point Lighthouse, 2012
| coordinates = {{coord|-31.4755|152.9372|display=inline,title}}
| yearbuilt = 1879
| yeardeactivated =
| automated = 1919
| intensity = 12,800 [[Candela|cd]]
| focalheight = {{convert|111|ft|m|disp=flip|abbr=on}}
| range = {{convert|16|nmi|abbr=on}}
| foundation =
| construction = cement render bricks
| shape = cylindrical tower with balcony and lantern
| marking = white tower, lantern and attached storeroom, blue balcony rail
| height = {{convert|8|m|abbr=on}}<ref>''List of Lights'' says a slightly lower {{convert|24|ft}}</ref>
| len s =
| currentlens =
| characteristic = Fl (4) W 20s.
| fogsignal =
| managingagent = Australian Maritime Safety Authority
}}

'''Tacking Point Lighthouse''' is [[Australia]]'s thirteenth oldest lighthouse. It was built on a rocky headland about 8 kilometres south of [[Port Macquarie]] in 1879 by Shepherd and Joseph William Mortley, to a design by the [[New South Wales]] [[New South Wales Government Architect|Colonial Architect]], [[James Barnet]]. It is operated by the [[Australian Maritime Safety Authority]] and is classified by the [[National Trust of Australia]] (NSW).

Tacking Point was named by explorer [[Matthew Flinders]] in 1802 during his 1802–1803 [[circumnavigation]] of Australia.<ref>Darroch, Donald (2003) ''East Coast Australia: Sydney to Cairns'', Footprint Travel Guides, p. 183</ref> Its nearest lighthouses are [[Smoky Cape Lighthouse]] at [[South West Rocks]], to the north, and [[Crowdy Head Light]], to the south.

== History ==
[[File:Tacking Point Light, plan of lighthouse and keepers' quarters, 1878.jpg|thumb|left|Original plans by James Barnet, 1878]]

In the mid-nineteenth century, there were few lights in the Tacking Point area and over 20 ships were wrecked. The first occurred in December 1823 when the [[schooner]] ''Black Jack'' was wrecked on the Port Macquarie bar.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/2182474|title = Classified Advertising|newspaper = Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser|date = 18 December 1823}}</ref> Consequently, in 1879, a fixed [[catadioptric]] light of less than 1000 [[candelas]] was erected on Tacking Point. It was the fourth of five small navigational lighthouses built to a design by James Barnet.<ref name="AA">{{Cite web |url=http://www.hastings.nsw.gov.au/www/html/1062-tacking-point-lighthouse.asp |title=Port Macquarie-Hastings Council: Tacking Point Lighthouse |access-date=24 August 2008 |archive-date=22 July 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080722205955/http://www.hastings.nsw.gov.au/www/html/1062-tacking-point-lighthouse.asp |url-status=dead }}</ref> The other four lighthouses were [[Crowdy Head Light]], [[Fingal Head Light]], [[Richmond River Light]] and [[Clarence River Light]] (now demolished).<ref name="LESM">{{Cite web |url=http://www.lighthouse.net.au/lights/Bulletin/0312/Bulletin%20Dec%2003.htm#Byron |title=Letter by Editor Steve Merson, ''Bulletin of the Lighthouses of Australia, Inc'', No. 8, December 2003 |access-date=25 August 2008 |archive-date=28 July 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080728095624/http://www.lighthouse.net.au/lights/Bulletin/0312/Bulletin%20Dec%2003.htm#Byron |url-status=dead }}</ref> Only two of these lighthouses, Tacking Point and Crowdy Head still have a storeroom attached.<ref name="LESM" />

The lighthouse was built of cement-rendered bricks and only needed to be 8 metres high due to the elevation of the site. In 1919, the light was converted from wick oil light to automatic acetylene operation, and was de-manned in 1920.<ref name="LNSW">{{cite loa|NSW|Tacking%20Point|Tacking Point Lighthouse}}</ref> The light was converted to mains electricity in 1974.<ref name="AA" /> The foundations of the keeper's cottage are still visible.

Management of the lighthouse is shared by three government authorities: the [[New South Wales Department of Lands]] owns the lighthouse; [[Transport for NSW]] operates the light;<ref>{{Cite web |url= http://www.maritime.nsw.gov.au/mpd/lighthouses.html |title=Lighthouse Lights – NSW Maritime |work=maritime.nsw.gov.au |accessdate=3 October 2010}}</ref> and the [[Port Macquarie-Hastings Council]] manages the site. Vandalism has been a problem in the early 2000s. Resolving the issue has been complicated by the split management.<ref name="LAB" />

[[File:Tacking Point Lighthouse pano.jpg|thumb|center|upright 3|Panoramic view of Tacking Point Lighthouse, with Little Bay on the left, and Lighthouse Beach on the right]]

== Tourism ==
[[File:TPL&Beach.JPG|thumb|left|Tacking Point Lighthouse viewed from Little Bay, 2008]]

The lighthouse headland marks the end of the circa 9 km coastal walk from Town Beach to Lighthouse Beach being built by the Port Macquarie–Hastings Council. The lighthouse is a popular site for [[whale watching]].<ref name="LAB">[http://www.lighthouse.net.au/lIGhtS/Bulletin/0507/tackibg_point.htm "Tacking Point Lighthouse vandalised again", ''Lighthouses of Australia, Inc. Bulletin'', 8 (4) July/August 2005]{{Dead link|date=August 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> The area is used for [[surfing]] and there is a [[surf life-saving club]] at the neighbouring [[Lighthouse Beach]].

== See also ==
{{Portal|New South Wales|Engineering}}
* [[List of lighthouses in Australia]]

== Notes ==
{{Reflist}}

== References ==
{{Commons category|Tacking Point Light}}
{{Refbegin}}
* {{cite rowlett|nsw|accessdate=2008-08-24}}
* {{cite ngall|111|2009|133}}
{{Refend}}

{{Lighthouses of New South Wales}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Lighthouses completed in 1879]]
[[Category:Lighthouses in New South Wales]]
[[Category:1879 establishments in Australia]]
[[Category:James Barnet buildings]]

Tacking Point Lighthouse - Revision history

imported>Dicklyon: pano & ce