Queenscliff High Light

The Queenscliff High Light is a lighthouse located in Queenscliff, Victoria, Australia, within the grounds of Fort Queenscliff. It was built in 1862 to replace a former sandstone lighthouse that was underpowered and deteriorating. The lighthouse is one of four black lighthouses in the world and the only one in the Southern Hemisphere. It stands 18 meters tall, with a focal height of 40 meters above sea level, and has a range of 14 nautical miles.

The Queenscliff High Light is a distinctive cylindrical tower with a balcony and lantern, made of bluestone and marked with an unpainted stone tower and green lantern and balcony. The lightsource emits either a fixed light or an occulting signal with an interval of 15 seconds, depending on the bearing. The lighthouse is part of a leading line used to guide ships through the entrance of Port Phillip Bay, which is notorious for its dangers.

The lighthouse has an interesting history, with conflicting accounts about the source of the basalt used in its construction. It was designed in Scotland and features curved walls to deflect shock from waves. The lighthouse was converted to gas in 1890 and then to electricity in 1924. Today, it is unmanned and automated, serviced by the Port of Melbourne Corporation. The lighthouse has also been referenced in literature, including in Henry Handel Richardson's book "The Getting of Wisdom", which describes a ferry trip that passes by the lighthouse.

Light and tower

It has a cylindrical tower with balcony and lantern tower. The tower is built of [[bluestone#Australia|bluestone]]. Its daymark is unpainted stone tower and green lantern and balcony. The light has a focal height of 40 metres. The light has a range of 14 nautical miles. Its light characteristic is either F W or Oc. W 15s. depending on bearing. It was first lit in 1862. It is managed by [[Port of Melbourne Corporation]].