The Low Head Lightstation was established shortly after settlement in the Tamar Estuary at Georgetown during 1804. The original fire beacon was erected at the station to assist mariners to find the entrance to the hazardous river. The present Lighthouse was completed in 1880.
During these early years it was found that very heavy sea and river fog created a significant hazard to an increasing amount of shipping. It was decided in the 1920’s to install a Fog Alarm at the Low Head Lightstation to warn ships that they were approaching a dangerous shore and to advise them by means of a unique signal that the shore was Low Head.
(Above: Low Head Lighthouse and Fog Alarm)
The equipment necessary for this installation was manufactured in Birmingham, England by Chance Bros., the same company who had made the equipment for the Lighthouse and who were the leading makers of marine navigation equipment in the world at the time.
The installation was shipped to Tasmania and installed in 1929. The Foghorn was commissioned and operated without fail whenever fog was imminent. The original installation consisted of 2 air compressors (1 a standby) powered by 2 Gardner kerosene motors (1 a standby) supplying air to 2 joined air receivers, each of a capacity of 6.5 cu.m. to an operating pressure of 30lbs/sq.in. An air operated timing mechanism controlled operating and sounding valves which produced the unique tone in the Diaphone which could be heard at distances up to 20 miles. In the late 1930’s, electric power was provided to the Lightstation and Fog Horn. One of the Gardner motors was removed and replaced with an electric motor. In 1973, it was decided that, due to the rapid advancement of electronic navigation aids, the use of the foghorn was no longer necessary and the installation was decommissioned.
(Click on a picture to view a larger image.)
The Low Head Progress and Heritage Association (together with the Parks and Wildlife Department of the Tasmanian Government, who are the present owners) decided that an attempt should be made to rehabilitate the Fog Horn. After enquiries through Trinity House in London, U.K. it was established that although a number of these systems had been made and installed in various locations around the world, it would appear that the Low Head Fog Alarm was the only one of it’s type which could be made operational again.
Above: Bruce, one of the many volunteers from Low Head who
managed to make
the Fog Horn come alive again, with Alan VK7JAB (on the
right).
We are pleased to say that, after many hours of work by the
volunteers at Low Head, the Fog Alarm is now in full working condition. We hope that you have all been able to
listen to the distinctive sound of the Low Head Fog Alarm, with background
noise from the electric motor and air compressor, which we have been given
permission to attach to this page.
This Page
Revised: 14 October, 2002. 