For those who like to relive history Wollongong's small breakwater lighthouse has been relit to mark International Lighthouse Heritage Weekend.
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Lighthouse of Australia president Ian Clifford is involved in reactivating the non-operational lighthouse every year on the mid weekend in August to coincide with the event held globally.
There was some debate about whether to push it back to the following weekend this year with some countries not wanting to clash with 75th anniversary of Victory in the Pacific Day (VP Day).
But in Wollongong Mr Clifford said they decided to stick to tradition.
"It is actually being lit on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights," he said.
"The whole reason we operate it is so people can see some working heritage.
"It is a wonderful vista down at Wollongong Harbour and lighting up the little lighthouse is a reminder of how it looked in times gone by.
"And lighting it up over four days gives people the chance to see and photograph it in different weather and light".
The Breakwater Lighthouse has been able to light up as it did more than a century ago because of a major restoration that occurred in 2001.
"I thought we have got to make this working heritage," Mr Clifford said.
"So we restored the optics to working order. I did a modern conversion on it with some help of donations from a couple of lighthouse authorities.
"We refitted it to operate. I had to do a couple of repairs this week but it still all works. It is going to flash three in 20 which is as close as we can research was its original character.
"It has three white flashes in 20 seconds and has a red sector in it which points roughly towards Bellambi Reef. If you are looking from the north on the coast you will see it as a red flash."
Mr Clifford said the larger lighthouse at Flagstaff Hill has two red sectors.
Wollongong has the only headland on the east coast of Australia with two lighthouses.
Mr Clifford said the smaller lighthouse was built in 1872 to serve Wollongong Harbour by lighting the entrance to it and mark the approach.
"The big lighthouse was built in 1936 as a day mark, which is why it is a large white tower on a headland, to give guidance into Port Kembla Harbour," he said.
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Greg Ellis
Almost four decades in electronic, print and digital media. A writer, presenter, emcee, photographer and videographer with degrees in business management, marketing and human resources and tertiary qualifications in photography.
Almost four decades in electronic, print and digital media. A writer, presenter, emcee, photographer and videographer with degrees in business management, marketing and human resources and tertiary qualifications in photography.
