The Norah Head Lighthouse book by Tony James will be officially launched at the Australian National Maritime Museum at Darling Harbour in Sydney and available to readers early in the new year.
It’s a beautiful quality, hard-cover book packed with illustrations and in eight parts from the beginnings of the lighthouse 119 years ago.
Starting with Part One and the First Peoples Barra Barang Ancient Land, the book moves through chapters Terre Australe Distant Shores; As the Rivers Ran, Darling Harbour and the Sixty Milers; Shipwrecks along the Coast; Norah Head Coastal Light; The Lighthouse and How It Works; the Lighthouse Keepers and finally Flags and Radios.
Secretary of the Norah Head Lighthouse Reserve Management Board, Doug Darlington, said it was a comprehensive and detailed book.
“It covers shipwrecks along the coast, trading that happened up and down the coast, the mechanics of how the old lighthouse used to work as far as the lenses and their burners and the different changes with those over the years – they’re all carefully documented, especially the clock work operation,” he said.
“And the book is much more than that.
“Special thanks go to our publisher Carolen Birripp of CLC Creations and our editor Meredith McGown.
“Both donated a lot of free time to the project which became a labour of love.
“They ensured that Tony James’ great vision became a reality and that his remarkable illustrations were published,” Darlington said.
The Board is taking pre-delivery orders for the book by sending an email request to NHLRboard@outlook.com
The Norah Head Lighthouse book was one of only 21 projects across Australia to gain funding in the latest round of grants under the Maritime Museums of Australia Project Support Scheme.
With support from the Australian Government, the Scheme helps projects by museums and cultural organisations that preserve and promote Australia’s maritime legacy.
Director and CEO of the Australian National Maritime Museum, Daryl Karp, said a shared connection with our seas and waterways was an essential part of our national story.
“As an island continent, our unique identity is reflected in the wealth of vessels, artefacts and stories that make up Australia’s maritime heritage,” he said.
‘This legacy extends far beyond large collections and institutions and is sustained by an extensive network of museums, organisations and community projects across Australia – including in regional and remote areas – and the dedicated people who drive and support them.
‘It is through the vital efforts of this network that our national maritime heritage is shaped and preserved for future generations,’ Karp said.
Sue Murray